Economic Competitiveness Vision

Ohio, the opportunity is now. Today our state is not only growing rapidly, it’s growing sustainably, offering competitive advantages that have the world looking in our direction. Our state’s strategic proximity to major markets, coupled with a rich reservoir of skilled talent, sets a robust foundation for any enterprise. Moreover, Ohio boasts a wealth of available sites ready for development and a well-established infrastructure that supports seamless operations. These assets aligned with the experts at JobsOhio reveal a new and powerful vision for the state’s future.

A Vision for Sites & Infrastructure

Assets like Ohio’s geographical location, land area, and infrastructure create an attractive foundation for prosperity.

OHIO WINS WHEN WE:

• Capitalize on Ohio’s “Generational Opportunity” and historically large megaproject pipeline to win more than our fair share of economic development projects — by aggressively funding speculative site development across Ohio.
• Expand utility infrastructure, including power, natural gas, water, and wastewater to ensure sufficient capacity and access at key economic development sites.
• Continue to seek ways to expand access to affordable high-speed internet, particularly in unserved and underserved areas of the state.
• Repair aging infrastructure like roads and bridges, especially in rural areas of Ohio.
• Invest in airport modernization and grow air service connectivity at each of Ohio’s commercial airports.
• Facilitate access to job opportunities in both rural and urban areas of the state.
• Ensure Ohio’s transportation infrastructure supports the transition to electric vehicles.

A Vision for Talent & Workforce

Our people are our greatest asset. Ohio cultivates talent who embody a spirit of dedication and pride and support for the state’s progress.

OHIO WINS WHEN WE:

• Explore expanded opportunities for reskilling and upskilling.
• Promote opportunities for internships, co-ops, and other types of experiential learning.
• Minimize the impact of the “benefits cliff” to ensure individuals are not negatively impacted by seeking job opportunities.
• Strengthen alignment and collaboration within the educational community to create talent pipelines.
• Invest in K-12 education with a heavy focus on in-demand career fields to ensure students are exposed to a variety of professional pathways as early as possible.
• Expand childcare resources for employees balancing work and family.
• Aggressively market Ohio as a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

A Vision for Innovation

The lightbulb, the airplane, the eVTOL: Ohio has always fostered a culture that supports a technically advanced society. The state prizes innovation.

OHIO WINS WHEN WE:

• Build off the success of JobsOhio’s Innovation District strategy, seek opportunities to capitalize on the unique strengths of other Ohio communities, and spur similar investments in innovation, R&D, talent production, and job creation.
• Position our state as a key player in innovative industries like the electric vehicle and semiconductor supply chain.
• Work to grow the amount of venture capital funds to back early-stage innovators.
• Adopt new technologies aimed at improving government efficiency and constituent service.
• Support companies seeking to modernize and automate their operations and supply chains.
• Embrace new and advanced forms of agriculture to complement Ohio’s robust traditional agribusiness and food sector.
• Enact policies to support additional early-stage biohealth activities such as clinical trials and R&D.
• Capitalize on Ohio’s military and federal installations to support development of innovative new technologies for use in National Security contexts, especially in the semiconductor sector.

A Vision for Business Climate

Ohio moves business forward. The state’s business-friendly approach drives ingenuity and prosperity, yielding jobs, high wages, and new ideas.

OHIO WINS WHEN WE:

• Pursue regulatory accountability, certainty, and predictability.
• Streamline and simplify Ohio’s local tax structure to lower the tax burden for individuals and corporations, while continuing to support the ability of local communities to fund economic development initiatives.
• Offer incentives to secure generational investments by incentivizing both job creation and capital investment.
• Develop policy and regulation that welcomes and supports all forms of energy generation, including renewable energy sources, along with emerging technologies such as hydrogen and renewable natural gas — particularly as baseload generation assets are decommissioned.
• Support emerging technologies related to the energy transition, including the production, transportation, and consumption of hydrogen, along with carboncapture sequestration.
• Continue to find creative ways to support job creation by both large and small firms.

A Vision for Quality of Life

Ohio represents the best of what our country has to offer — opportunities for people to live their version of the American Dream.

OHIO WINS WHEN WE:

• Invest in quality of life and community assets — education, the arts, parks and recreation, healthcare, housing, and transportation.
• Expand Ohio’s commitment to meaningful services for veterans and their families and enact policies to make Ohio the most veteran-friendly state in the nation.
• Ensure qualifying small businesses in eligible communities have access to economic opportunities and quality of life assets.
• Enact policies to incentivize production of additional housing units in all areas of the state.
• Attract new citizens to Ohio by promoting Ohio’s low cost of living and abundant quality of life assets.