Chicago’s reputation as America’s most quietly productive metropolis has crystallized into a 2025 growth story built on hard infrastructure, a deep tech surge and the country’s steadiest stream of corporate expansions. Two once-in-a-generation infrastructure projects are now fully financed and moving forward. At O’Hare International (ranked #8), Satellite Concourse 1 is set for completion in 2028 and Studio Gang’s Global Terminal in 2030 – a 25% gate capacity lift for the country’s second-busiest domestic hub. On the ground, the CTA Red Line Extension, a 5.6-mile, $5.3-billion venture linking the Far South Side to the Loop, will break ground in 2026 for completion by 2030. Together, these projects widen the labor catchment by more than 100,000 potential employees and cut commute times from the suburbs and South Side neighborhoods by up to 30 minutes, likely boosting the already impressive #14-ranked Economic Output. Chicagoland also topped Site Selection Magazine’s Tier-1 metro rankings for an astonishing 12th straight year, with a project pipeline nearly 100 deals larger than its nearest competitor. The city is leaner and more efficient than ever, boasting the second-highest number of Fortune 500 headquarters in the country, behind only New York (and ranking #14 globally in our Large Companies subcategory).