By Brielle Scott
In the heart of Central Ohio, the Rickenbacker submarket has cemented the region as a top-tier destination for industrial investment, logistics innovation and global connectivity. At NAIOP’s I.CON Central conference this week in Columbus, Ohio, attendees explored major projects in the area, which is Ohio’s largest submarket and home to 25% of Columbus’ industrial stock.
Rickenbacker’s unique position within a one-day truck drive of nearly half the U.S. and one-third of the Canadian population makes it a magnet for companies seeking fast, reliable access to major consumer markets. Its proximity to the Norfolk Southern Rickenbacker Intermodal Terminal and other major rail providers ensures seamless coast-to-coast shipping options, making it a vital link in the global supply chain.
Rickenbacker International Airport – named for flying ace and Columbus native Eddie Rickenbacker – is one of the world’s only cargo-dedicated airports and a cornerstone of the region’s multimodal infrastructure. With scheduled import and export services to key hubs in Asia, Europe and the Middle East, the airport enables seamless global trade.
Rickenbacker also anchors Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) 138, administered by the Columbus Regional Airport Authority. Covering a 25-county service area, FTZ 138 helps companies reduce costs and boost profits by deferring, reducing or eliminating customs duties. In 2023 alone, over $10 billion in goods moved through the zone, underscoring its strategic value.
From global freight forwarders to Fortune 500 companies, businesses are leveraging Rickenbacker’s multimodal connectivity to streamline supply chains and accelerate delivery times.
In January 2025, American defense manufacturer Anduril Industries announced they will develop what will eventually be a 5-million-square-foot state-of-the-art drone manufacturing facility spread over 500 acres in Rickenbacker; the project is expected to create over 4,000 new jobs by 2035, making it the largest single job-creation project in Ohio’s history.
As Palmer Luckey, founder of Anduril Industries, put it: “There are some states that are really good at pushing you out and slowing you down, and there [are] others that are great at pulling you in and speeding you up. That’s what Ohio was.”
This post is brought to you by JLL, the social media and conference blog sponsor of NAIOP’s I.CON Central 2025. Learn more about JLL at www.us.jll.com or www.jll.ca.
