Index Debuts at SelectUSA Investment Summit; Texas, Utah and Florida Lead Overall Rankings
WASHINGTON D.C. — BGR Analytics, the data practice of BGR Group, Washington’s premier bipartisan government affairs and public relations firm, today launched the BGR Best States for AI Investment Index — a comprehensive, data-driven ranking of all 50 states and the District of Columbia based on their readiness and attractiveness for artificial intelligence investment. The Index is the first product of its kind to apply rigorous, multi-dimensional analysis to the AI investment landscape, giving technology companies, data center developers, sovereign wealth funds, private equity firms and foreign governments the intelligence they need to make confident, data-backed AI investment decisions.
The Index is being introduced tonight at a cocktail reception co-hosted by BGR Group, Advocus Partners and gener8tor in connection with the SelectUSA Investment Summit. The reception is themed “Investing Locally to Compete Globally: Building Innovation Ecosystems & AI Ready States.” It will be held on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., at the Belvedere Lobby Bar, Gaylord Hotel, National Harbor, Maryland.
Texas ranks first overall, followed by Utah and Florida in BGR Analytics’ inaugural Best States for AI Investment Index. California and North Carolina are tied for 4th, followed by Virginia, Georgia, Colorado, Washington, Massachusetts and Maryland.
“The AI economy is reordering American competitiveness state by state, and the decisions companies and investors make today about where to deploy capital will shape the landscape for decades,” said Frank Ahrens, Head of BGR Analytics. “Until now, those decisions have too often been made on the basis of conventional wisdom, gut instinct, or incomplete data. The BGR Best States for AI Investment Index changes that, delivering more than 100 verified data points across five pillars to cut through the noise and give investors the confidence to act.”
Five Pillars. 14 Indicator Groups. 100+ Data Categories.
The Index evaluates all 51 jurisdictions across five core pillars: 1) Dynamic Economy, 2) Business Climate, 3) Data-Center Readiness — encompassing Research & Startup Ecosystem, Data Infrastructure, Regulatory Friendliness, Energy Abundance & Affordability, and Synergistic Advantage — 4) Workforce Advantage and 5) Quality of Place. Each indicator is normalized and scored before applying group and pillar weights to produce an aggregate total score and ranking. Rankings reflect objective data only; no state surveying was conducted.
The Index also produces specialized sub-rankings, including Top States for Physical AI Investment — led by Texas, Florida and Georgia — and Top States for Knowledge AI Investment — led by California, Texas and North Carolina — enabling investors to pinpoint the best states for their specific deployment needs.
Built for Investors and State Governments Alike
For investors, the Index serves as a decision-support tool to identify optimal locations for AI-related capital deployment, validate or challenge site-selection assumptions, and build a data-backed narrative for stakeholders on where — and why — AI investment should flow.
For state governments, the Index shows exactly how each state performs across the 14 categories that matter most to AI investors — from data center infrastructure to talent pipelines — enabling state economic development officials to sharpen their investment pitch, target their strengths, and close competitive gaps.
About BGR Analytics
BGR Analytics® is the data practice of BGR Group, established in 2023. Powered by BGR’s Data Science team and led by Principal Frank Ahrens, BGR Analytics uses proprietary methodologies and data from multiple authoritative sources to produce rankings, risk assessments, and actionable intelligence that give clients a competitive edge. BGR Analytics products include the BGR Impact Index; the BGR Energy Security Index and the BGR Best States for Asian Investment Index. More information is available at bgrdc.com/bgr-analytics.
About BGR Group
Founded in 1991 and celebrating its 35th anniversary, BGR Group is the leading bipartisan government affairs, public relations and analytics firm in Washington D.C., with offices in Austin, Atlanta, Nashville and Phoenix and extensive business relationships around the world. BGR’s clients include Fortune 500 companies, foreign governments, trade associations, non-profit organizations, academic institutions and coalitions. More information is available at bgrdc.com.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Frank Ahrens
Head of BGR Analytics
BGR Group
FAhrens@bgrpr.com
(202) 352-4227
