By J.P. Nauseef, President and CEO, JobsOhio
The extraordinary is becoming the everyday in Ohio. States are locked in fierce competition for legacy-building projects and top talent, and Ohio has emerged as a consistent leader. As President and CEO of JobsOhio, the state’s private economic development corporation, I’ve had the privilege of seeing firsthand how our unique model blends the agility of a private enterprise with a mission-driven public purpose. This approach allows us to help companies grow at the speed of trust while driving lasting economic prosperity for all Ohioans.
JobsOhio offers concierge services and robust incentives to ten targeted industrial sectors, from advanced manufacturing and automotive to technology and life sciences. We work alongside the state government but bring flexible, independent resources to the table, making Ohio the premier destination for industrial expansion and job creation.
Ohio’s Economic Leadership
Under the DeWine-Husted Administration’s visionary leadership, Ohio has evolved from a state in transition to a national pacesetter. Through strategic policy decisions and an unwavering focus on business success, Ohio has created an environment where companies and their people can thrive.
The state’s fiscal 2024-2025 budget embraced business-friendly policies, including landmark reforms to Ohio’s tax structure. The top income tax rate was cut to 3.5 percent, and the Commercial Activity Tax (CAT) requirements were eliminated for businesses with gross receipts under $6 million, exempting about 90 percent of Ohio-based businesses.
Infrastructure excellence has earned the state top honors in Site Selection magazine’s Global Groundwork Index for the second straight year. Ohio’s leadership is backed by robust capabilities, including the nation’s fourth-largest interstate system and operating railroad network.
The state’s value proposition is reflected in its rankings: #2 nationally for cost of doing business and #4 for cost of living, according to CNBC’s Top States for Doing Business. This powerful combination has made Ohio America’s eighth most diverse industrial economy, attracting transformational investments across key sectors.
Since 2019, Ohio has experienced a swing in momentum across virtually every measure of economic vitality. Project wins have increased by 47 percent to 2,155 developments, creating over 126,000 new jobs. New payroll climbed 27 percent to $6.6 billion, putting more money in Ohioans’ pockets, while capital expenditure commitments leaped 85 percent to $67 billion.
The extraordinary is becoming the everyday in Ohio. States are locked in fierce competition for legacy-building projects and top talent, and Ohio has emerged as a consistent leader. As President and CEO of JobsOhio, the state’s private economic development corporation, I’ve had the privilege of seeing firsthand how our unique model blends the agility of a private enterprise with a mission-driven public purpose. This approach allows us to help companies grow at the speed of trust while driving lasting economic prosperity for all Ohioans.
JobsOhio offers concierge services and robust incentives to ten targeted industrial sectors, from advanced manufacturing and automotive to technology and life sciences. We work alongside the state government but bring flexible, independent resources to the table, making Ohio the premier destination for industrial expansion and job creation.
Ohio’s Economic Leadership
Under the DeWine-Husted Administration’s visionary leadership, Ohio has evolved from a state in transition to a national pacesetter. Through strategic policy decisions and an unwavering focus on business success, Ohio has created an environment where companies and their people can thrive.
The state’s fiscal 2024-2025 budget embraced business-friendly policies, including landmark reforms to Ohio’s tax structure. The top income tax rate was cut to 3.5 percent, and the Commercial Activity Tax (CAT) requirements were eliminated for businesses with gross receipts under $6 million, exempting about 90 percent of Ohio-based businesses.
Infrastructure excellence has earned the state top honors in Site Selection magazine’s Global Groundwork Index for the second straight year. Ohio’s leadership is backed by robust capabilities, including the nation’s fourth-largest interstate system and operating railroad network.
The state’s value proposition is reflected in its rankings: #2 nationally for cost of doing business and #4 for cost of living, according to CNBC’s Top States for Doing Business. This powerful combination has made Ohio America’s eighth most diverse industrial economy, attracting transformational investments across key sectors.
Since 2019, Ohio has experienced a swing in momentum across virtually every measure of economic vitality. Project wins have increased by 47 percent to 2,155 developments, creating over 126,000 new jobs. New payroll climbed 27 percent to $6.6 billion, putting more money in Ohioans’ pockets, while capital expenditure commitments leaped 85 percent to $67 billion.
Major expansions by AWS, Intel, Sierra Nevada, Joby Aviation, and Medpace have demonstrated that when global leaders look for their next growth opportunity, they’re increasingly finding it in Ohio.
In fact, JobsOhio just closed the largest job-generating megaproject in state history: Anduril’s first hyperscale manufacturing facility near Rickenbacker International Airport, creating 4,000 new jobs over ten years. Anduril cited Ohio’s advanced manufacturing prowess, ideal site options, top-ranked aerospace supply chain, and an array of strategic Air Force, NASA, and Space Force commands as operationally compelling, but it added that the ease of working with JobsOhio was the final differentiator.
Ohio’s Site Readiness Guarantee
Through our SiteOhio program and the Ohio Site Inventory Program (OSIP), JobsOhio has taken a proactive approach to how we prepare, authenticate, and deliver shovel-ready locations for business expansion and relocation.
Rather than simply maintaining a database of available properties, SiteOhio involves a rigorous authentication process that verifies utility capacity, due diligence study completions, and necessary approvals from federal and state entities.
Complementing this authentication process, OSIP provides the funding muscle to take promising sites from potential to project ready. We’ve turned $148 million in strategic investment into $1.8 billion in private development since 2020, creating over 18 million square feet of new industrial space statewide.
The state of Ohio is also doubling down on site development through the All Ohio Future Fund, a $750 million investment in preparing sites for the next generation of megaprojects.
Ohio’s Workforce
Ohio is experiencing significant population growth through domestic migration, with a net 97,000 people moving to Ohio for job-related reasons from 2019-2023. Even more telling is who’s moving: a 2024 Bloomberg analysis reveals that Ohio’s 25-44-year-old population, the prime working-age demographic, is stable or growing in three-quarters of the state’s counties. Newcomers have cited proximity to family and friends, superior value for their money, and access to quality jobs as the state’s key advantages.
Ohio is actively investing in this growing workforce through upskilling programs like TechCred, which has awarded over 100,000 credentials to date, equipping workers with the skills needed to thrive in advanced industries. Combined with a world-class higher education network, these initiatives ensure Ohio’s talent pipeline remains robust and ready to meet the demands of tomorrow’s economy.
JobsOhio 2030
Our five-year strategic plan, JobsOhio 2030, charts an ambitious course that builds on our state’s momentum while seizing emerging opportunities in high-growth, high-potential sectors. Six strategic pillars will drive this:
- Fully realizing Ohio as the “Silicon Heartland”: Leveraging Intel’s transformative investment, we aim to fully realize Ohio as a hub for semiconductor innovation and supply chain growth.
- Incorporating the Opportunities of AI: We’re strategically positioning Ohio to harness the power of artificial intelligence across our diverse industrial base, focusing on real results and measurable impact.
- Skilled Technical Workforce: Building on Ohio’s #1 Midwest ranking for workforce productivity and #3 national ranking for our manufacturing workforce, we recognize there is much more to be done through JobsOhio talent programs and initiatives and targeted upskilling programs.
- Innovation: Uniting our Innovation Districts under the Ohio Discovery Corridor brand creates a network effect that amplifies our strengths, competes successfully for federal funding, and attracts top-tier research, venture investment, and entrepreneurial talent.
- Energy Production: With the Ohio Valley projected to supply nearly half of America’s natural gas by 2040, Ohio’s abundant natural resources and diverse energy portfolio offer companies competitive rates today and energy security for tomorrow.
- Competitive Brand: Ohio’s brand promise, “Have it All in the Heart of it All,” is increasingly resonating with companies and talent alike, as evidenced by our growing in-migration of job seekers.
Together with our partners across Ohio, we’re building an environment where every business, community, and talented individual can seize tomorrow’s opportunities today. Learn more at JobsOhio.com.
