Ohio is positioning itself as a top destination for business growth, offering a diverse and resilient economy, business-friendly tax policies and a workforce as humble as it is driven.

• The state's competitive advantages include a 0% state tax on corporate income and a manufacturing workforce that ranks third in the U.S.
• Additionally, Ohio's strategic location — a day's drive from 60% of the U.S. and Canadian populations — makes it a prime location for logistics and distribution hubs.

What you need to know: JobsOhio, the state's private economic development corporation, plays a pivotal role in fostering growth and creating opportunities for businesses and employees alike as demand for talent reaches an all-time high.

• JobsOhio helps bridge talent gaps and drives innovation across the state by connecting companies with resources and customized business growth solutions.
• These initiatives don't just attract companies — they fuel a thriving ecosystem that benefits businesses, employees and communities alike.

Why it's important: Statewide investments in innovation and workforce development are critical for Ohio to remain competitive. These efforts ensure companies can scale quickly and access the best talent across diverse fields, including STEM.

Take note: JobsOhio supports businesses in ten industries, including advanced manufacturing, healthcare, information technology and aerospace.

• By fostering collaboration between businesses, academic institutions and research facilities, JobsOhio delivers customized solutions to help companies grow.
• JobsOhio's private funding provides flexible funding faster while protecting your confidential information.

Here's how:

🌟1. Innovation ecosystems

Ohio's innovation strategy is bold, ambitious and effective. JobsOhio partnered with the state and public and private healthcare and university institutions to launch one of the nation's most comprehensive economic development initiatives.

• These efforts catalyze growth by connecting world-class universities, federal research institutes, leading companies and 14 top-ranked hospital systems into a cohesive innovation engine.

The deets: The strategy drives collaboration and investment across three Innovation Districts in Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland, forming the Ohio Discovery Corridor.

• Ohio Discovery Corridor fosters discoveries, patents and startups while attracting STEM talent and providing businesses with essential growth capital.
• The districts are projected to generate 60,000 jobs and $9 billion in economic impact over the next decade.

The background: Ohio's innovation efforts are underpinned by significant funding to enhance life sciences and biotechnology, including $1 billion in NIH support in 2023.

These initiatives ensure Ohio stays competitive across the innovation continuum, from early research to commercialization, bridging the gap between invention and market success.

💼2. Workforce development

Ohio has around 39,000 STEM degree completions per year and is on track to increase the number of STEM graduates by an additional 47,500 over the next 10 years. The state is actively making investments in the future, including:

• $300 million for career tech expansion.
• $100 million for workforce training equipment in higher education.

• $50 million for upskilling programs like TechCred and IMAP.

Plus, plus, plus: The state's over 200 educational institutions, including 14 public universities, 22 community colleges and 49 Ohio Technical Centers, all contribute to a well-rounded talent pipeline.

🧑‍💼3. Talent solutions

JobOhio takes a hands-on approach to workforce development through its team of over 30 talent experts.

The strategy: These professionals collaborate closely with businesses to design customized strategies that address unique challenges, leveraging Ohio's extensive network of education and training institutions.

• An example: Programs like Find Your Ohio proactively connect businesses with a diverse and qualified talent pool, ensuring companies have access to the resources they need to succeed.

The impact: JobsOhio helps companies build and sustain top-tier teams by combining data-driven insights and personalized support.

The takeaway: Ohio's commitment to innovation and building a robust workforce development ecosystem makes it an ideal location for businesses to thrive. With support from JobsOhio, companies gain access to a partner invested in their success for the long haul, helping them navigate challenges and seize opportunities in a competitive market.

Learn more.