Q1 Recap: A Record Year and the Road Ahead

I am pleased to provide this recap of JobsOhio's Q1 2025 Public Board of Directors meeting.

Building on a year of prolific success, we have secured transformative investments, achieved record-breaking rankings, and positioned our state as a national leader in economic development. During our Q1 Public Board of Directors meeting, we reflected on our recent accomplishments, welcomed new leadership, and outlined ambitious plans to address the workforce challenges ahead.

This recap highlights key insights from Governor Mike DeWine, Lieutenant Governor Jim Tressel, and our strategic vision as we implement our JobsOhio 2030 plan.

A video link to the full Q1 2025 JobsOhio Board Meeting can be found HERE.

Governor DeWine: Aligned for Continued Success

Governor DeWine emphasized the importance of Ohio's public-private alignment as a cornerstone of our continued economic success. He credited JobsOhio's trusted partnerships with state agencies, regional networks, and the legislature as essential to attracting and retaining leading businesses.

Governor DeWine also highlighted the significance of the recent approval by Ohio’s Controlling Board of the 15-year extension of the JobsOhio Beverage System, ensuring ongoing funding and stability for our economic development initiatives.

"[The extension] ensures everyone and sends another signal to companies, to businesses, and to business publications around the country that this team will continue on for many, many years in the future. And again, it is important we send the message that JobsOhio will continue to be a huge partner as we do this. It's also in the follow-up, that companies will know that in the years ahead, JobsOhio is not only going to be there, it's going to be robust, and it will be able to fulfill its obligation as the state fulfills its obligations."

Governor DeWine expressed gratitude to former Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted, now our U.S. Senator, recognizing his many contributions to economic development and workforce strategies that have helped transform Ohio’s economic landscape.

Lieutenant Governor Jim Tressel: Prioritizing Workforce and Education

In his inaugural JobsOhio board appearance, Lieutenant Governor Jim Tressel outlined his vision for strengthening Ohio's workforce through education, collaboration, and clear pathways to promising careers in our state.

"I hear the phrase 'economic development' and the challenge I get in my mind is that economic success is the workforce. Just like our teams, you could talk all you want about the coaches, but the players are the ones that win. And so, the challenge we have now is to have economic success, which will be in large part by developing that workforce and getting people excited to be a part of these things as they learn more about them."

Drawing from his tenure as President of Youngstown State University and head coach at the Ohio State University, Lt. Governor Tressel emphasized partnerships between education and industry and underscored the importance of community collaboration.

Sustaining Historic Momentum and Strategic Clarity

In my President’s Report to the JobsOhio Board of Directors, I reflected on a record-breaking year, where our preparation truly met opportunity. Ohio planned, invested, and executed our growth strategy with intentionality, and despite deals across America down 35%, 2024 was JobsOhio’s most prolific year for project completions since JobsOhio was created 14 years ago.

2024 Rankings:

• Ohio ranked #2 in megaprojects for our third straight year
• #3 nationally in completed deals, with nearly 600 in 2024
• #3 nationally for capital expenditure, winning $20 billion in new fixed capital investment commitments
• #5 nationally for new jobs, adding more in 2024 than 45 other U.S. states.

JobsOhio 2030: Growing Together

The companies and industries coming to and converging in Ohio are bringing breakthrough innovations in trillion-dollar markets. They're doing it on Ohio soil with Ohio grit and Ohio know-how.

We're sending a message to the world: when it matters, you make it in Ohio. And over the next five years, Ohio can achieve even more.

• Capitalize on "Super Sectors": Target sectors converging into high-growth super sectors, combining customers, companies, and suppliers creating substantial economic upside.
• Fully realize the “Silicon Heartland”: Leveraging Intel’s transformative investment to attract semiconductor supply chains and innovative companies. We’ll support critical defense applications developed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and build out the Silicon Heartland one invention, one company, one brick at a time – just as Ohioans did during the industrial age.
• Incorporating the Opportunity of Artificial Intelligence (AI): Capturing a projected $1.8 trillion global AI market by 2030, both as a standalone sector and an enabler of our other sectors.
• Retain & Attract Skilled Workforce: Working closely with state government, educational institutions, client companies, and regional partners to build on one of America’s most industrious, diverse, and productive labor forces.
• Innovation Economy: Supporting commitments made through innovation districts in Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus, and innovation hubs in Akron, Dayton, and Toledo.
• Energy as a Competitive Advantage: Collaborating with partners like the Ohio Business Roundtable to leverage abundant energy resources as a competitive advantage.
• Ohio's Brand Promise: Reinforcing Ohio as the place where “You can have it all at the heart of it all” – where exceptional quality of life meets outstanding business opportunities.

Workforce Development: Meeting Ohio’s Growing Talent Needs

While Ohio clearly maintains an upward trajectory, our most pressing challenge remains workforce availability. As company leaders consistently ask about talent, we recognize a significant gap between Ohio’s talent supply and projected market demand – particularly in technology, advanced manufacturing, and life sciences.

JobsOhio and partners are addressing this challenge head-on:

• Targeting 91 categories of in-demand jobs (engineers, technicians, IT and AI specialists)
• Leveraging 200+ higher education institutions producing 136,000 degrees annually
• Improving retention of graduates (currently 45% leave Ohio after graduation)
• Innovation Districts in Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus and innovation hubs in Akron, Dayton and Toledo, producing an additional 47,500 STEM and technical graduates over 10 years
• Supporting the renewal of Ohio’s TechCred program, championed by former Lt. Governor Husted, which has awarded more than 120,000 in-demand credentials
• JobsOhio’s Talent Acquisition Services have already helped 91 companies hire over 21,000 new employees
• JobsOhio talent experts aim to match 10,000 future candidates with critical roles
• Find Your Ohio, projecting outreach to over 80,000 out-of-state skilled candidates

JobsOhio has invested nearly $700 million across nine key talent initiatives, including Forbes Under 30 activations, Talent Acquisition Services, Find Your Ohio, and Workforce Grants.

Learn more about JobsOhio's talent programs and services HERE.

Looking Ahead: Ohio's Moment is Now

In a season of political transition both in Washington and here at home, JobsOhio’s approach remains clear and consistent. While leadership changes naturally raise questions, we'll continue working alongside our local, state, and federal partners to stay laser-focused on what drives company growth here in Ohio: access to talent, infrastructure, and an ecosystem that supports innovation.

Ohio’s unmatched combination of economic opportunity, competitive cost position, and superb quality of life continues to set us apart. But equally important are our core values – the authenticity, work ethic, and collaborative spirit that define Ohio.

Thank you for your continued partnership. Ohio’s moment is now – and together, we will seize it.

Very respectfully,

J.P. Nauseef

President & Chief Executive Officer

JobsOhio