If you’re working on an RFI right now, you’ve probably felt it.
Projects aren’t easier.
They’re not even more competitive.
They’re more constrained.
A recent industry pulse check from the Site Selectors Guild, The 2026 State of Site Selection Pulse Check, shows a clear shift in how location decisions are being made in 2026. And it changes how economic developers need to respond.
Infrastructure Is Now the #1 Site Selection Factor
For years, incentives, costs, and workforce led the conversation.
Now it’s infrastructure.
- 76% of site selectors say infrastructure is the top factor
- 61% say it’s the leading reason sites get eliminated
This includes:
- Electric power capacity
- Water and wastewater
- Natural gas
If a site can’t be served, it doesn’t matter how strong everything else looks.
Why this is happening
- AI and data centers are driving massive new demand
- Energy-intensive industries are expanding
- Grid capacity is lagging
This isn’t a preference shift. It’s a hard constraint.
Speed to Market Is Driving Site Selection Decisions
Speed has always mattered. Now it dominates.
About 67% of site selectors say they’ve compromised on site quality, policy, or incentives just to meet timelines.
That means:
- “Perfect” sites lose
- “Ready now” sites win
What this means for RFIs
If you can’t quickly prove:
- utility availability
- development readiness
- timeline certainty
You’re likely out before deeper evaluation even begins.
Tariffs and Policy Uncertainty Are Delaying Projects
Federal policy and global trade uncertainty are slowing decision-making.
- 66% of projects are being delayed or postponed
- Delays outpace accelerations by roughly 4 to 1
Companies are:
- rethinking supply chains
- reconsidering locations
- pausing decisions mid-process
Implication
More RFIs.
Longer timelines.
Higher drop-off rates.
The Top Site Selection Deal Killers
When projects fail, it usually comes down to three things:
- Infrastructure capacity
- Available, development-ready sites
- Workforce availability and quality
These are all supply-side issues.
And they’re increasingly non-negotiable.
Community Resistance (NIMBYism) Is Rising
Community pushback is becoming more common:
- 69% of respondents say it’s a growing barrier
Most visible in:
- data centers
- energy projects
While not yet the top elimination factor, it’s trending upward and influencing project viability.
What Types of Projects Are Driving Demand
The strongest activity is concentrated in:
- Data centers and AI infrastructure
- Energy generation
- Defense and aerospace
- Advanced manufacturing
These sectors share one characteristic:
They require significant infrastructure capacity.
Why the Traditional Site Selection Playbook No Longer Works
The old approach focused on:
- incentives
- cost competitiveness
- marketing
That’s no longer enough.
Today’s site selection process requires:
- validated infrastructure data
- real-time site readiness insights
- faster response times
- risk mitigation upfront
What Economic Developers Need to Do Differently
To stay competitive in 2026, communities need to:
- Clearly document utility capacity (not estimates)
- Maintain development-ready site inventories
- Quantify workforce availability
- Address community sentiment early
- Respond to RFIs faster with better data
The Bottom Line
Site selection isn’t just about competing anymore.
It’s about qualifying.
If your site can’t meet infrastructure, readiness, and workforce requirements immediately, it’s eliminated early.
If it can, and you can prove it quickly, you move forward.
How Sitehunt Helps
Most of these answers already exist across:
- GIS data
- utility providers
- engineering reports
- internal files
They’re just slow to assemble.
Sitehunt brings that together so you can:
- evaluate sites instantly
- respond to RFIs in minutes
- show exactly why a site works
Because in this market, speed and certainty win.