This briefing is part of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development’s Regional Growth Series, which provides employers, investors, and regional leaders with timely insights and reflections on the policy, market, and execution issues shaping Southwestern Pennsylvania’s growth trajectory.

Drawing from issues raised by employers and economic signals, this document distills how international companies evaluate the US – and specific regions nationwide – when making investment decisions. Foreign-owned firms are central to the Pittsburgh region’s economy, anchoring manufacturing supply chains, supporting high-wage jobs, expanding exports, and strengthening global market ties. As global capital reallocates in response to supply chain shifts, geopolitics, and evolving trade and immigration policy, foreign direct investment (FDI) decisions increasingly reflect national conditions alongside regional strengths.