CEO Guide to the States

Ohio

BIG OPPORTUNITIES IN THE BUCKEYE STATE

The Buckeye State continues on a path of economic diversification. Megaproject legislation passed by the state legislature in 2021 enables the state to better compete for large projects, said J.P. Nauseef, president and CEO of Jobs Ohio. Over the past couple of years, Ohio landed notable megaprojects, such as a 2-million-square-foot electric vehicle battery plant in 2022, a $1.5 billion Ford assembly plant, and a $150 million expansion of Medspace’s headquarters facilities in Cincinnati that will create 1,500 jobs. Other companies, including Honda/LG Energy Solutions and Amazon Web Services, have announced groundbreakings or expansions in the past year. The semiconductor industry is one of the fastest growing and most exciting in the state.

“We think Ohio is very perfectly situated with our great location. Sixty percent of the population of this country, 60 percent of the population of Canada is within a day's drive of Ohio. We've got a good workforce. We have a history, a history of great manufacturing. We are a manufacturing state. So we think history has come together, and it's our time and our time in history. And I think things are looking very good for Ohio and, frankly, for other manufacturing states.”
Mike DeWine
Governor

TAXES

No corporate income tax

# 0

on the Tax Foundation’s State Business Tax Climate Index ranking

EDUCATION

0 %

of adults 25 years of age and older graduated high school

0 %

of adults age 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or higher

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

0 %

RIGHT TO WORK STATE

No

QUALITY OF LIFE

# 0

POPULATION GROWTH

0 %

decrease between 2010 and 2020

KEY INCENTIVES

Job Creation Tax Credit (JCTC): Offers a refundable and performance-based tax credit calculated as a percentage of created payroll for businesses that create at least 10 jobs in three years with a minimum payroll of $660,000 and that pay at least 150 percent of the federal minimum wage.

Research and Development Investment Loan Fund: Offers loans of up to $5 million to projects engaged in R&D activity. Also offers a dollar-for-dollar, nonrefundable Ohio commercial activity tax credit for principal and interest payments made during the year up to $150,000 during the loan term.

Innovation Ohio Loan Fund: Offers loans of up to $1.5 million, covering up to 75% of construction, technology, facilities and equipment purchases.

EDCs

JobsOhio

jobsohio.com

City of Columbus Economic Development

columbus.gov/development/economic-development

City of Cleveland Economic Development

makeitincleveland.org

ChooseCincy

choosecincy.com

HIGHLIGHTED PROGRAM OR INITIATIVE

The Buckeye State unveiled two new funds in 2023. The Ohio Early Stage Focus Fund, which will provide capital to professionally managed investment funds with the goal of supporting early-stage technology companies that are woman-owned or minority-owned or based in an area that has been underserved by venture capital. Organizations and private investment firms are eligible for up to $5 million of the more than $36 million available. The Ohio Venture Fund offers investment capital to professionally managed investment funds to support Ohio technology companies with early-stage capital through Series A. Organizations and private investment firms can apply for up to $10 million of the $75 million in available funds.

BIG DEALS

  • Yaskawa America announced in June 2023 a $5.7 million expansion project and 70 new jobs in Miamisburg.
  • Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced in June 2023 investing $7.8 billion by the end of 2029 to expand data center operations in Central Ohio.
  • Sheetz announced in August 2023 $145 million distribution center that will create 700 jobs over the next five years.
  • Joby Aviation announced in September 2023 a $447.5 million investment and 2,000 new jobs at the Dayton International Airport.
  • Curiosity announced in September 2023 a $3.3 million expansion in Cincinnati that will create 32 jobs.

BIG COMPANIES

24 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in state, including:

  • Progressive Insurance
  • Cardinal Health
  • Marathon Petroleum
  • Kroger
  • Procter & Gamble
  • Nationwide
  • Sherwin-Williams
  • Goodyear Tire & Rubber
Roundtable

Strategic Planning Workshop

1:00 - 5:00 pm

Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process

Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:

  1. Lack of systematic approach (70%)
  2. Laundry lists without prioritization (68%)
  3. Decisions based on personalities rather than facts and information (65%)

 

Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns.  They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning.  Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process.  This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented.  If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form.  The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.

New York, NY: ​​​Chief Executive's Corporate Citizenship Awards 2017

Women in Leadership Seminar and Peer Discussion

2:00 - 5:00 pm

Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations. 

Limited space available.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $495 will be added to your total.

Golf Outing

10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS

General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.

The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $295 will be added to your total.