In economic development, understanding the distribution and characteristics of project leads is critical to driving growth and supporting informed investment decisions. Throughout the fourth quarter of 2025, project activity provided valuable insight into how market demand evolved as communities and businesses planned for the end of the year while positioning themselves for 2026. By analyzing the patterns and trends behind these leads, stakeholders can make strategic decisions that support long-term success.
Below, we highlight key fourth-quarter data points that offer a detailed overview of project leads by state, building size requirements, acreage needs, and industry. We also discuss notable trends that emerged during the final months of the year. These insights help businesses and investors identify near- and long-term opportunities, while also enabling policymakers to refine strategies based on shifting regional and sector-specific needs. We can collectively align these development efforts along with year-end findings to help communities strengthen their economic resilience and enter 2026 better positioned to adapt to changing market conditions.
Project Leads by State
Analyzing project leads by state offers a snapshot of economic activity across our 21 member cooperatives. This breakdown helps identify which states are seeing the most interest in new projects and can guide resource allocation and strategic planning. In Q4 2025 we submitted 20 leads.
- 20 total leads submitted in the fourth quarter
- 16 leads solely interested in Indiana
- 2 leads solely interested in Illinois
- 1 leads solely interested in Missouri
- 1 lead interested in Missouri, Indiana, and Illinois
Project Leads by Industry
Understanding the distribution of project leads by industry helps to identify economic trends and sectoral growth patterns. WVPA communities received 15 leads in the manufacturing industry. We also submitted leads to other industries. Even with the data center boom, our territories continue to see manufacturing leads.
Acreage Requirements
Project leads vary significantly based on the acreage requirements, reflecting diverse types of developments and their spatial needs. In the fourth quarter, 14 project submissions requested an unknown amount of acreage.
Building Size
The scale of buildings required for projects provides insight into the nature and scope of these developments. Knowing this information can help prepare our communities for future growth. In the fourth quarter, the most submitted building size requirement was between 0-50,000 SF. With many (10) projects coming in with an unknown building size requirement.
As we closed out 2025, our team is proud of the project leads submitted across our member territories. Each lead represents potential investment, job creation, and growth opportunities for our communities. These results reflect the continued collaboration between our economic development team, local partners, and distribution cooperatives to position our regions for long-term success. We look forward to building on this momentum as we move into the 2026 year.