The autonomy for a company to operate on its own terms is a boon to the business leaders and entrepreneurs who choose the state. Kortney Harmon, an Ohio native and director of industry relations at the recruiting software company Crelate, has observed this allure. “Ohio's pro-business policies and freedoms are one of our greatest strengths,” she said.

Because Ohio is a home rule state — that is, local governments largely have the authority to govern their own affairs — JobsOhio helps streamline the entry process for businesses coming in. Rather than companies developing internal teams to navigate bureaucracy at the local, county or state level, JobsOhio collaborates across the state to get things done. “When a client comes in, they don’t have to figure out who’s doing what at the local level,” Nauseef said. “We speak with one voice because we've developed the JobsOhio regional network to work directly with our regional and local partners.” The result is a seamless experience for the company.

The JobsOhio team has working relationships with government entities and resources throughout the state and they spend time getting to know the unique needs of every prospective business looking to expand or relocate. Once engaged, JobsOhio works with its network of partners to bring together incentives, workforce development strategies, infrastructure and energy plans and more. It’s like having a dedicated team of in-the-know local consultants to optimize the business growth process. This service helps reduce red tape, streamlining the process to give businesses the freedom to plan their next steps.

When a company decides they’re ready to put down roots in Ohio, there’s no need to wait. “We invest a significant amount in preparing sites so that they are shovel-ready. They have the right water, sewer and connectivity to power. So, when a company is looking, we can react and respond very quickly to their needs,” Nauseef said of the myriad of sites around the state that are ready to be customized to a business’ specifications.

With the groundwork largely laid ahead of time, coupled with JobsOhio’s consultative approach, businesses are free to move at an accelerated pace. “Our economic development professionals come out of the private industry sectors, so we not only are able to understand a business’ vision, but we can move at their pace,” Nauseef said. “We curate a very specific incentive package that fits their needs. We are not one-size-fits-all. We customize it so that they're prepared when they hit the ground to meet their market demands and don't waste time or energy.”

An important element of any relocation or expansion is access to a workforce that is ready and able to do the work to make businesses run smoothly. “We've got one of the top manufacturing workforces in the country, and we're one of the most productive labor forces in the Midwest,” Nauseef said. Part of that strength comes from more than 200 higher education institutions statewide, including 14 public universities, 22 community colleges, 49 technical centers and major corporations that provide on-the-job training. Plus, approximately 75 percent of higher education graduates stay within the state.

JobsOhio is leaning in and leveraging its partnerships to drive innovation. The organization teamed with anchor partner organizations to invest $3 billion to create outcome-based Innovation Districts in the state’s three largest cities — Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus — to drive partnerships among private companies and higher education and research institutions. Named the Ohio Discovery Corridor, the initiative is projected to encourage an additional 47,500 STEM degrees and drive 60,000 new jobs over a ten-year period.

The freedom to innovate and hire top candidates is good for the bottom line. “Ohio is an at-will employment state, providing businesses with the flexibility to manage their own workforce. Ohio is now ranked in the top 10 states for net in-migrations, and, according to JobsOhio data, the influx is the strongest among 25 to 44-year-olds attracted by job opportunities,” said Harmon, who noted that Ohio is also investing $300 million into career tech facilities and equipment, $100 million into higher education workforce training equipment and $50 million into dedicated programs to help workers gain critical skills. “It’s proof that Ohio is crushing it. JobsOhio and state partners are thinking big-picture to make Ohio a place where you want to be,” she said.