< PreviousSTATE SPOTLIGHT 204 SEPTEMBER 2025 SITE SELECTION by MARK AREND mark.arend@siteselection.com W hen corporate expansion projects announced in Idaho in are tallied, two companies with existing operations in the state will top the list for capital investment outlay. Micron Technology is moving forward with plans to establish a second memory fabrication plant in Boise as part of a $ billion investment announced in June. Dairy food producer Chobani is investing $ million to expand its Twin Falls facility by , sq. ft. In , the company invested $ million to boost production. Idaho Small Town Wins Boost Key Ag Sectors Total Rev. as Share of Total Expenses, FY 2008-22: 107.93% Industrial power cost per kWh: $7.17 2024 Workers’ Comp Index Rate: 1.43 Number of NCRCs: 203 | Percent Improved 2023–24: 4.1% Higher Ed. R&D Expenditure in $000s: $195,999 Business Tax Climate Rank Change 2024–2025: +5 Selected Top Projects by Capital Investment COMPANY CITY INVESTMENT $M Chobani Twin Falls 500 Tractor Supply Co. Nampa 225 Idaho Milk Products Jerome 200 Mart Frozen Foods Rupert 65 J. C. Watson Co. Wilder 32 Source: Conway Projects Database BY THE NUMBERS IDAHO Tractor Supply Company is building a distribution center in Nampa to support retail outlets in the Pacifi c Northwest. Photo courtesy of Tractor Supply Company SITE SELECTION SEPTEMBER 2025 205 Smaller communities, too, are seeing capital invested, particularly in the food processing sector; agribusiness and food processing are among the Gem State’s top industries. Jerome, north of Twin Falls, has a population of under ,, for example. It’s the location Idaho Milk Products chose for a $ million ice cream and powder blending plant under construction that’s set to open in May . Ice cream is a new business line for the company. Rupert, Idaho (pop. ,), is miles east of Twin Falls on Interstate . It’s where Mart Frozen Foods recently opened a ,-sq.-ft. plant for producing frozen baked potatoes. e $ million project, with new jobs, is expected to have an $ million annual economic impact and will be a key destination for the state’s many potato farmers. Growing potatoes in Idaho in occupies about , acres, according to the Idaho Potato Commission. A Dairy Research Center Takes Shape Rupert also is where the University of Idaho is building a new research facility, the Idaho Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (CAFE), which is scheduled to open in early . CAFE will specialize in fi ve areas: animal-related and environmental research; agronomic research; food science research; outreach and education; and workforce development. e university says it will be the largest research dairy in the U.S. and “will allow researchers to address critical challenges facing the industry, utilizing larger herd sizes that better refl ect the realities of today’s dairy industry in Idaho.” Idaho is the fourth largest milk- producing state in the U.S, according to the Idaho Dairymen’s Association (IDA), and it’s home to more than dairy operations. e industry supports , jobs and generates nearly $ billion in sales annually. By IDA’s count, Idaho is home to roughly , milk cows. People? About million. All those dairy farms and potato- growing acres require a healthy supply of agriculture equipment. Tractor Supply Company picked Nampa, miles west of Boise on Interstate , for an ,-sq.-ft. distribution center to serve its stores in Idaho and others in the Pacifi c Northwest. e nearly $ million project will support more than new jobs, according to the company. MAJOR IDAHO POTATO GROWING AREAS — BY COUNTY — In any given year, Idaho potato growers harvest between 300,000 and 320,000 acres, averaging 13.5 billion pounds of Idaho ® potatoes per year. Map courtesy of Idaho Potato CommissionMissouri STATE SPOTLIGHT 206 SEPTEMBER 2025 SITE SELECTION A ll 50 U.S. states are involved in some level of agricultural production, resulting in a total gross production value of over $534 billion in 2024 alone. Industry-leading states such as California and Texas hold their own well, but in a Midwest region dominated by agriculture, Missouri is bringing its ecosystem to the next level. The state has a roster of nearly 90,000 farms and more than 500 food and beverage companies, including global heavyweights Anheuser-Busch, Cargill, General Mills, Kraft Heinz and Tyson Foods. These manufacturers reap the benefits of a full production lifecycle, as high-quality raw materials are in steady supply. Meanwhile, the state’s geographic positioning and transportation infrastructure that allows products to move by air, rail, water or road fulfills the needs of domestic and international distribution. Since January 2024, Missouri has secured 21 new food and beverage project investments totaling over $537 million across the state. Project details place an emphasis on manufacturing operations, a majority of which focused specifically on expansion. Recent May 2025 announcements include a $95 million expansion from Daily’s Premium Meats in Saint Joseph, north of Kansas City along the Missouri River, and Conagra Brands’ $29.1 million expansion in Macon, located halfway across the state from St. Joe along U.S. Highway 36, known as the Way of American Genius because of its ties to creative individuals (Mark Twain, Walt Disney) and unique innovations. Decades of industry growth and expertise moving into the state naturally led to the cultivation of a rich agricultural and biotech industry ecosystem that has connected Missouri researchers, scientists, farmers, manufacturers and by ALEXIS ELMORE alexis.elmore@siteselection.com Hungry for Solutions WashU’s School of Public Health has welcomed the first of six planned Innovation Research Networks. Photo courtesy of Washington University St. Louiseducators. e added advantage of being within miles of where over half of the nation’s food production is concentrated has introduced unique opportunities for the state. St. Louis has become a pillar of research and innovation within the state’s thriving agricultural ecosystem. e region has accumulated the highest number of plant scientists on the globe, driven by assets such as the Missouri Botanical Garden and the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, which is the largest independent plant research institute in the world. Combined with strategic developments like the -acre North agricultural technology and biosciences innovation district and the -acre Cortex Innovation District designed for biotech and life sciences research, St. Louis is a playground for the curious. Next Generation Exploration Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) is taking a new approach to tackling global challenges associated with agricultural production, food distribution and access to quality nutrition. e April introduction of WashU’s new Food and Agriculture Research Mission (FARM) laid a new foundation to foster research and collaboration in the region. “St. Louis and its surrounding areas are well known nationally and internationally for excellence in agricultural research and innovation, particularly in plant and biosciences,” says WashU FARM Director Morven McLean. “ e region has a deep bench of talent, expertise and experience that runs from blue-sky, big ideas research in leading academic institutions such as Washington University to small intensely creative startups to some of the biggest international players.” She says this connectivity has led to a number of innovative products, practices and services that provide social, economic, health and environmental benefi ts locally, regionally and globally. e concept of FARM was advanced during a Food Futures symposium convened at the university in March , which focused on such topics as food access, aff ordability, quality and sustainability. Issues derived from conversations held at Food Futures helped mold FARM’s emerging strategy. Housed in WashU’s School of Public Health, FARM represents the fi rst of six planned Innovation Research Networks (IRN) being introduced to the university. e concept of IRNs has been in development for some time as the School of Public Health aimed to deepen connections between academic and community partners to drive new research. “ ese are dynamic research hubs that will both imagine and respond to frontiers in public health research, situating interdisciplinarity at their core,” McLean continues. “So FARM is part of that collaborative ecosystem, comprised of researchers in the School of Public Health, as well as from WashU’s other schools, but also engaging with researchers, practitioners and leaders from the communities that we work with and serve.” Students attending the research- intensive university already benefi t from engaging in a diverse range of research initiatives that provide the space to explore, develop and push the boundaries of how WashU creates and uses knowledge and data to impact the world. rough FARM, these students will delve into research areas such as mitigation and management of food waste and loss; developing tools that provide decision-making support for sustainable agriculture and food system policies and practices; improving rural health to positively impact food system transformation; and nutrition and agricultural biodiversity. One month after its launch, FARM announced the introduction of its FARM Cultivate Grants Fund. e program’s fi rst move aims to kickstart research for practical, scalable innovations across agriculture, food systems and public health with an emphasis on sustainability. e grant program features two tracks — the fi rst catering to early-career investigators and the second designed for established interdisciplinary teams pursuing rigorous preliminary investigations. Track provides up to $, for one year of research, while Track awards up to $, for two to three years of research. Applications for grant funding are currently still open with the fi rst round of recipients expected to be announced later this year. “FARM is a new initiative, launched just a few months ago, but we are already benefi ting from St. Louis’ amazing R&D and practice culture,” says McLean. “ ere’s a prevailing spirit of collaboration and cooperation, and collective pride in the progress and successes that happen — whether in research or starting and growing new businesses.” Selected Top Projects by Capital Investment COMPANY CITY INVESTMENT $M Patmos Hosting Kansas City 1,000 Schreiber Foods Carthage 211 Icl-Ip America Saint Louis 197 Tierpoint Saint Louis 150 Edged Energy Kansas City 143 Source: Conway Projects Database Total Rev. as Share of Total Expenses, FY 2008-22: 103.40% Industrial power cost per kWh: $7.90 2024 Workers’ Comp Index Rate: 1.54 Number of NCRCs: 5,307 | Percent Improved 2023–24: 8.13% Higher Ed. R&D Expenditure in $000s: 1,772,740 Business Tax Climate Rank Change 2021–2022: -1 BY THE NUMBERS MISSOURI SITE SELECTION SEPTEMBER 2025 207STATE SPOTLIGHT 208 SEPTEMBER 2025 SITE SELECTION K nown as a leader in biotechnology and scientifi c innovation, Massachusetts’ war chest is growing with the help of private industry eff orts and a $ billion economic development bill, the Mass Leads Act, signed into law in late by Governor Maura Healy. e measure grants authorizations for capital spending across artifi cial intelligence, public infrastructure, clean technology, rural development and site readiness. “ e state is in a very strong fi scal position,” says Michael Goodman, professor of public policy at UMass Dartmouth. “We are home to many elite higher educational institutions, research institutions and world-class teaching hospitals that have supported a lot of technology and innovation-based growth and development.” An Economy Built on Resilience Preceding the Mass Leads Act was the Life Sciences Initiative signed into legislation by Gov. Deval Patrick in that invested $ billion over years in the biotechnology and life sciences sectors of the Commonwealth. Like the bill, the Mass Leads Act will provide a $ million capital reauthorization of the state’s Life Sciences Initiative over years and an expansion of a tax credit program aimed at job creation and growth in this sector; $ million in climatech initiatives and a new tax incentive program for climatech companies; and a $ million investment to create the Massachusetts AI Hub. “ ere was bipartisan support for these investments,” says Goodman. “I think innovation more broadly has been a real economic growth driver for the state.” One of two ponds near the Bostik Middleton facility, where $27 million is going into expanding capacity. Image courtesy of Arkema North America by KELLY BARRAZA kelly.barraza@siteselection.com INNOVATIVE SPIRIT IN The Commonwealth Massachusetts Higher Ed. R&D Expenditure in $000s: $4,786,106 Number of NCRCs: 1,515 | Percent Improved 2023–24: 11.32% Business Tax Climate Rank Change 2024–2025: +5 Industrial power cost per kWh: $17.88 Total Rev. as Share of Total Expenses, FY 2008-22: 96.89% 2024 Workers’ Comp Index Rate: 1.05 Selected Top Projects by Capital Investment COMPANY CITY INVESTMENT $M GE Aviation Systems Lynn 200 Mariana Oncology Watertown 50 New England Force Pembroke 45 Abside Networks Concord 39 Bostik Middleton 27 Source: Conway Projects Database BY THE NUMBERS MASSACHUSETTS SITE SELECTION SEPTEMBER 2025 209 The investments align with state climate and decarbonization goals and provide a significant amount of opportunity for states like Massachusetts, says Goodman, noting that these capital investments are designed to position Massachusetts competitively as these industries continue to grow. In June 2025, the Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) announced $29.9 million in tax incentive awards to 33 life sciences companies through the MLSC’s Tax Incentive Program. The awards are expected to create 1,519 new life sciences jobs in the state. As one of the editors of the journal MassBenchmarks, an initiative of the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston that regularly evaluates the state’s economy, Goodman notes that Massachusetts has taken a healthy but longer route to recovering its economy since the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are still experiencing pretty solid economic performance,” Goodman says. “The word of the day is resilience.” In the August 2025 update of MassBenchmarks, the leading index projected that the rate of growth in Massachusetts GDP will continue to be moderate over the rest of the year, with annualized growth rates of 2% in the third quarter and 1.9% in the fourth quarter. Expanding Manufacturing in Middleton The Commonwealth also has a strong arm in advanced manufacturing. Bostik, the adhesive and coating solutions arm of multinational manufacturer Arkema, is pursuing a $27 million investment at its Middleton location. Jeff Merkt, SVP of Bostik North America, discussed the expansion made to the existing site. “This specific expansion is to enhance the amount of copolyester resins we can produce in Middleton,” says Merkt. “A copolyester resin can be used in many different ways as an adhesive or a coating. It’s got a very high temperature resistance or chemical resistance. The inside coating of a can uses copolyester technology. It fights against the acids in food. The interiors of most major airplanes are [also] utilizing copolyester technology.” Given its long manufacturing operations history in the New England area and a high-performance work group that services the facility, the Middleton facility was an obvious choice for further development. “It was a relatively easy decision to expand that site,” says Merkt. “Arkema operates just under 50 sites in North America, so we had many locations to choose from, but we selected Middleton given the great experience we have had in the past.” Arkema has spent $12 million of the $27 million investment during its construction phase so far, with two-thirds going toward Massachusetts-based contractors. “The people doing the piping work, or the people doing the welding, or those doing the rigging that’s required, or the people who are doing the civil part of the project — they are all local vendors,” says Merkt. As a large supplier of materials that go into the construction industry (flooring products, bonding of glass to buildings, building envelope protection, tape for wrapping houses and flashing sprayed onto buildings), Bostik stakeholders carefully consider the types of chemicals used in building construction as well the type of process that is used to build something precast or modular in apartments and homes. Merkt also noted the steps being taken to ensure sustainable on-site operations. “Sustainability is a really important topic for Arkema, and we believe we are one of the leaders in that space as a chemical company,” he says. “We have super ambitious climate plans that include Middleton. We’re trying to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, scope 1 and scope 2, by 48%. And we’re trying to reduce our scope 3 emissions by 67%. And these are goals that are science-based, target initiative-validated from 2019 to 2030.” A majority of the construction work being done at the Bostik site in Middleton has been contracted out to Massachusetts vendors. Image courtesy of Arkema North America210 SEPTEMBER 2025 SITE SELECTION SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION BIOTECH LOCATIONS Report Examines Regional Impact of NIH A coalition of top research institutions, patient and health advocates, and companies earlier this year published its annual analysis of jobs and economic activity supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding distributed to all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. How do top states for NIH funding correlate with top locations for biotech and life sciences? Very well. Very well indeed. United for Medical Research counts among its members such institutions as MIT, Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University, Washington University in St. Louis and Northwestern University; organizations such as the Alzeheimer’s Association and the Association of American Cancer Institutes; and companies such as AdvaMed, BD, Johnson & Johnson and ThermoFisher Scientific. The overall report finds NIH research funding supported 407,782 jobs and produced $94.58 billion in economic activity in FY2024 — or $2.56 of economic activity for every $1 of research funding. Since Fiscal Year 2015, the NIH budget has grown by more than $17 billion “thanks to strong bipartisan congressional support and a commitment to making medical research a critical national priority,” UMR stated. “Over the past decade, NIH research funding has driven more than $787 billion in new economic activity and supported an average of more than 370,000 jobs a year.” UMR says analysis for the report was performed by Ronald Horst of Inforum with calculations of the jobs and economic activity resulting from NIH research awards in each state relying heavily on the Regional Input-Output Modeling System (RIMS) parameters maintained by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Certainly some of the top states in NIH funding are the envy of others when it comes to an active biotech economy. Here are the top 10 by NIH funding: by ADAM BRUNS adam.bruns@siteselection.com State NIH AWARDS ($M) Jobs Created per TOTAL EMPLOYMENT ECONOMIC $1M NIH Awards ACTIVITY ($M) California 5,151.1 9.1 55,324.4 13,812.8 New York 3,548.1 7.3 30,521.9 8,269.2 Massachusetts 3,458.8 8.2 30,110.7 7,761.9 Maryland 2,432.1 8.8 22,567.1 5,304 Pennsylvania 2,204.3 8.9 21,740 5,311.3 North Carolina 1,975.5 10 21,769 4,853 Texas 1,897.5 12.3 30,553.3 6,126.8 Illinois 1,275.3 10.1 15,553.2 3631.8 Washington 1,260.4 8.3 12,250.3 3089.2 Among the plethora of biosciences companies in top NIH award state Massachusetts is Vertex, which maintains a headquarters and R&D site in Boston in addition to the Jeffrey Leiden Center for Biologics, Cell and Genetic Therapies elsewhere in the city and other cell & genetic therapies R&D sites in Cambridge and Watertown. Photo courtesy of Vertex212 SEPTEMBER 2025 SITE SELECTION SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION BIOTECH LOCATIONS Biotech is prominent in — if not central to — the economy of every one of those 10 states, with NIH awards leaders California and No. 3 Massachusetts routinely acknowledged to be Nos. 1 or 2 in the biosciences sector overall (see the California spotlight on p. 137 of this issue for more from Biocom California’s 2025 Life Science Economic Impact Report). Many of these top states are also leaders when it comes to tracked R&D spending. Reports released in late 2024 by the National Science Foundation and its National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics found that in FY2023, “of the six functional categories of state agency R&D expenditures, health-related R&D remained the largest with over $1.3 billion in expenditures, increasing 17.6% from FY2022,” with higher education institutions receiving the lion’s share. Here were the 10 states with the largest amounts of extramural R&D expenditures. Combined they accounted for $1.6 billion or 71% of all extramural R&D: 1 California.......... $497 million 2 Texas .............. $280 million 3 New York .......... $200 million 4 Florida ............ $169 million 5 Ohio ............... $117 million 6 Pennsylvania ..... $83 million 7 New Jersey ....... $96 million 8 Alabama .......... $75 million 9 Tennessee ......... $67 million 10 Massachusetts .... $47 million Five of these states are also among the top 10 in the UMR report on NIH funding. “There is no better investment than one that saves lives, supports local economies and drives America’s global leadership in biomedical innovation,” said UMR President Caitlin Leach in March on the report’s release. “When Congress invests strongly and consistently in the NIH, all three of those things happen ... UMR is very concerned about recent actions and proposals that would result in drastic reductions in funded research, including clinical trials, and greatly diminish NIH’s effectiveness. Such moves jeopardize lives, local communities and U.S. industries. We urge Congress and the Trump Administration to work together to ensure that America’s long-standing and highly successful biomedical innovation ecosystem, which has a strong and well- funded NIH at its center, remains the envy of the world.”Next >