Date: August 29, 2025 · Edition #03
Follow the money. Move smarter.
Quick Take
Reshoring is entering its execution phase: chip fabs, EV plants, and supplier hubs are breaking ground across the U.S., transforming local economies and supply chains.
For Smart Movers, the most exciting part of reshoring isn’t just the billions being poured into fabs and EV plants — it’s the ripple effects hitting smaller cities and towns. That’s where new jobs are created, where housing markets shift, and where the overlooked opportunities live. If you’re willing to look beyond the headlines, you’ll find the real Smart Mover plays in these local transformations.
Top 3 Signals (Verified)
Anchor Signal #1 – Semiconductors
Intel’s Ohio fab is still the flagship reshoring project ($20B+, under construction).
TSMC’s Arizona fabs are delayed but still critical (DOE + state funding).
Anchor Signal #2 – EV/Batteries
Hyundai + LG Energy’s Georgia EV/battery hub ($7.6B, ~8,500 jobs).
Panasonic expanding in Kansas ($4B+).
Anchor Signal #3 – Supplier Ecosystem / Workforce
States like Ohio and Arizona launching workforce development programs tied to fabs.
New supplier park announcements (e.g. Georgia auto suppliers).
Incentives & Grants
DOE Loan Programs Office expanding guarantees for battery and grid-adjacent projects.
State-level “mega-deals”:
Ohio: up to $2B in incentives for Intel.
Georgia: $1.8B+ for Hyundai EV campus.
Arizona: infrastructure funding to support water/power demand of fabs.
Local workforce grants: free training programs, community college partnerships.
Watch this video CNBC featured on TSMC.
This Week’s Plays
Industrial REITs & Logistics: Reshoring requires square footage for suppliers + just-in-time distribution. Prologis, Duke Realty, and regional REITs could see accelerated demand.
Workforce Housing in Secondary Markets: Towns near fabs (Columbus, OH; Casa Grande, AZ; Bryan County, GA) are underbuilt. Workforce housing developers and BTR operators can ride this wave. We identified Toledo, OH as a latent benefactor of the growth that is happening in Columbus.
Tier 2/Tier 3 Supplier Bets: Machine shops, specialized component makers, and regional contractors are poised for steady contracts — often overlooked but critical.
Infra Funds & Private Equity: Watch infra funds targeting “last-mile” assets — power, water, logistics parks.
Market Drivers (Macro)
Federal Tailwinds: CHIPS Act ($52B) + IRA credits are directly subsidizing large-scale industrial projects.
Geopolitics: U.S.-China tensions make domestic production a national priority.
Labor Shortages: 2M+ skilled worker shortfall forecasted by 2030 (Deloitte). Workforce bottlenecks may define which regions succeed.
Capital Flows: Record private + public co-investment into advanced manufacturing.
Source: Stanford Center on China’s Economy and Institution
What We’re Tracking Next
Supplier Ecosystems: Which states successfully capture Tier 2/Tier 3 suppliers.
Housing & Infrastructure Stress: Can local markets absorb population + labor inflows?
Capital Market Moves: REIT acquisitions, infra fund entries, and private equity rolling up small suppliers.
Workforce Mobility: Migration trends into secondary manufacturing hubs.
Columbus, OH (Intel fabs): Metro pop ~2.23M, growing +1.4% YoY — outpacing Midwest average.
Casa Grande, AZ (TSMC/Supplier hub): Pop ~70K, up ~30% since 2020 — among fastest-growing U.S. cities.
Bryan County, GA (Hyundai EV hub): Pop ~51K, up 30%+ since 2019 — one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation.
Toledo, OH: Metro ~516K (+0.6% YoY); city ~265K (continuing slow decline since 2020).
Bottom Line
Reshoring isn’t a headline anymore — it’s happening. The U.S. is committing hundreds of billions to domestic manufacturing capacity, and local economies are being restructured in real time. Investors, developers, and entrepreneurs who position around workforce, suppliers, and infra will ride this wave.
– Smart Movers Club Team
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Disclaimer: This intel is educational only. Always consult a licensed professional before major financial or development decisions.