Leadership: Ohio and Dayton Region: #1

Author: Ann Gallaher

April 2009

Site Selection magazine is a 55-year-old Atlanta-based magazine that has awarded its Governor’s Cup to the U.S. state with the most new and expanded corporate facilities — since 1978. The New Plant database for Site Selection magazine, the oldest publication in real estate and the economic development field, focuses on new corporate location projects with significant impact. New facilities and expansions included in the analyses must meet at least one of three criteria — involve a capital investment of at least US$1 million, create at least 50 new jobs or add at least 20,000 square feet of new floor area. (The database does not track retail and government projects, or schools and hospitals).

Ohio has claimed the 2008 Governor’s Cup with 503 projects, after claiming the 2007 Cup with 399 projects. This is Ohio’s third consecutive Governor’s Cup and its fourth in six years. “We cannot allow challenges of the moment to deter us from doing the things that will enable us to participate fully in the recovery that will come,” Strickland tells Site Selection. “We have to maintain our commitment to those efforts that will be essential once the economic storm has passed. The very intense, focused steps that our Department of Development has taken are the key.”

The Dayton MSA won the #1 Top Metro as the top performer in the tier 2 category comprised of metropolitans with populations from 200,000 to 1 million. Additionally, Springfield also was named for its growth and expansion, clinching the #2 spot in tier 3 metros, cities with 50,000 to 200,000 people.

Ohio outpaced states such as Texas, New York, and Virginia while the Dayton region surpassed Greensboro-High Point, NC, Tulsa, OK, and Grand Rapids, MI. With support from the Governor’s office, state legislators, local city governments, colleges and universities, and the collaborative team of regional economic development partners – the Dayton region is working to attract companies, rebuild industries, and grow jobs and prosperity in the region.