CEO Guide to the States

Ohio

THE BUCKEYE BOOM

While the manufacturing sector has slightly declined in the Midwest, the industry remains a cornerstone for the Buckeye economy. Manufacturing GDP reached $133 billion in the last quarter of 2023, representing more than 17 percent of the private sector GDP and fueled by investments from companies like Honda and Intel. Meanwhile, the state has also been investing more in its infrastructure, laying the groundwork for stronger economic growth. Development teams landed more than 94,000 new jobs and more than $65 billion in capital investments between 2020 and mid-2024.

“From Ohio’s inventory of construction-ready industrial sites to our reliable energy and water resources, there are so many compelling advantages to doing business in the heart of it all…. When coupled with Ohio’s tax and regulatory policies that reduce risk, cut red tape and accelerate access to domestic and international markets, we’re ensuring that businesses have everything they need for success.”
Mike DeWine
Governor

TAXES

No corporate income tax

# 0

on the Tax Foundation’s State Tax Competitiveness Index

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 2020 and 2023

KEY INCENTIVES

The JobsOhio Economic Development Grant: Promotes economic development, business expansion and job creation by providing funding for eligible projects in
the state of Ohio.

The State of Ohio Job Creation Tax Credit: Offers a performance-based tax credit from the state calculated as a percentage of created payroll and applied toward the company’s commercial-activity tax liability.

The JobsOhio Workforce Grant: Promotes economic development, business expansion and job creation byproviding funding to companies for employee development and training programs.

The JobsOhio Research & Development (R&D) Center Grant Program: Faciliates strategic corporate R&D centers in Ohio to support the development and commercialization of emerging technologies and/or products that align with one or more of JobsOhio’s targeted industries.

JobsOhio Talent Acquisition Services: Provides a customized approach to solving talent challenges, helping companies identify talent challenges and build sustainable talent recruitment strategies that support every stage of the candidate journey.

EDCs

JobsOhio
jobsohio.com

City of Columbus Economic Development
columbus.gov/development/economic-development

City of Cleveland Economic Development
makeitincleveland.org

City of Cincinnati Community 
choosecincy.com

HIGHLIGHTED PROGRAM OR INITIATIVE

The Ohio Site Inventory Program (OSIP) was established to fill gaps in Ohio’s real estate inventory with real estate-targeting, near-term sector wins to ensure the state is more competitive for reactive site selection projects. The OSIP offers grants and low-interest loans to support speculative site and building development projects with no identified end user.

BIG DEALS

  • Worldpay announced in December 2023 it will establish its headquarters in Cincinnati, bringing more than 500 jobs and $56 million in payroll to southwest Ohio.
  • Louis Dreyfus Company announced in February 2023 a $541 million facility and 114 new jobs in Upper Sandusky.
  • Joby Aviation announced in September 2023 a $477 manufacturing facility and 2,000 jobs in Dayton.
  • Forsee Power celebrated in September 2024 the opening of its North American headquarters and a new industrial site in Hilliard.
  • Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) formally opened its second aircraft modernization, modification and maintenance facility in October 2024.
  • Gifthealth announced an expansion in 2024 that will create 751 jobs and generate more than $56 million in new annual payroll.

BIG COMPANIES

Twenty-seven Fortune 500 companies headquartered in state, including:

  • Cardinal Health
  • Cleveland-Cliffs
  • Goodyear Tire & Rubber
  • Kroger
  • Marathon Petroleum
  • Nationwide
  • Parker Hannifin
  • P&G
  • Progressive
  • Sherwin-Williams
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.