This content is paid for by an advertiser and published by WP Creative Group. The Washington Post newsroom was not involved in the creation of this content.
Something special is happening in Ohio. Home to the seventh largest economy in the U.S., Ohio has seen a 63 percent increase in new businesses over the past ten years, as companies across a wide range of industries—from advanced manufacturing, to aerospace and aviation, to financial services and beyond—have chosen to launch, relocate or ramp up their operations in the Buckeye State.
Companies large and small are finding success in the state for a host of reasons:
There’s Ohio’s manufacturing workforce, ranked the third strongest in the country
Its strategic, central location, just one day’s drive from 60 percent of the U.S. and Canadian population
Its low cost of doing business, 0 percent corporate income tax, and cost of living
The list of unique advantages to be found in the state goes on, encompassing everything from infrastructure, to R&D investment, to government and JobsOhio loan and grant programs and beyond. There’s never been a better time to do business in Ohio—and by all indications, things are only going up from here.
For an on-the-ground look at what it means to thrive in Ohio, we spoke to four leaders who have found success in the state. Though their industries and areas of expertise vary, they all share a common message: when it comes to growing their business, there’s nowhere they’d rather be than Ohio.
President and CEO of the Transportation Research Center
"The advantages Ohio offered TRC from the start and have sustained us over our first five decades—location, workforce, heritage—remain just as important to our success today as they did on day one."
Brett Roubinek
President and CEO of the Transportation Research Center
"The advantages Ohio offered TRC from the start and have sustained us over our first five decades—location, workforce, heritage—remain just as important to our success today as they did on day one."
Mike Koralewski
Chief Supply Chain Officer of First Solar
"First Solar's roots are in Ohio—we've had a manufacturing presence here for over two decades."
Mike Koralewski
Chief Supply Chain Officer of First Solar
"First Solar's roots are in Ohio—we've had a manufacturing presence here for over two decades."
Giorgio Rizzoni
Director of the Ohio State University Center for Automotive Research
"The ecosystem that the state of Ohio has built in support of the automotive industry... has been very successful in growing new automotive business in the state."
Giorgio Rizzoni
Director of the Ohio State University Center for Automotive Research
"The ecosystem that the state of Ohio has built in support of the automotive industry... has been very successful in growing new automotive business in the state."
Bonny Simi
Head of Air Operations and People at Joby Aviation
"We're proud to be building the future of aviation where it all started—and to be delivering a range of high-tech manufacturing jobs here in the United States."
Bonny Simi
Head of Air Operations and People at Joby Aviation
"We're proud to be building the future of aviation where it all started—and to be delivering a range of high-tech manufacturing jobs here in the United States."
Brett Roubinek
Brett Roubinek is the President and CEO of the Transportation Research Center (TRC), where the world’s leading transportation companies test their vehicles for safety, energy efficiency, performance, crash-worthiness and beyond. Founded and headquartered in Ohio, TRC works with industries, governments, trade associations and educational institutions across the globe.
"For well over a century, Ohio has been at the heart of transportation manufacturing, research and innovation. Our state sits at the crossroads of talent, ingenuity and know-how that are needed to advance transportation, to make it safer, smarter and more sustainable. Ohio and TRC are at a sweet spot thanks to our central location, proximity to industry innovators and the pool of expertise we can pull from our many great colleges, universities and career technical centers. The advantages Ohio offered TRC from the start and have sustained us over our first five decades—location, workforce, heritage—remain just as important to our success today as they did on day one.
"Beyond those essentials, there are other factors that make Ohio the perfect home for TRC. First is the strong spirit of cooperation we find in working with the state’s business leaders, the academic community and all levels of government. Then there’s Ohio’s mid-continent location: we have four distinct seasons to test and refine products in all types of weather and travel conditions, and easy access to a full range of roadway types and terrains. And of course, there’s Ohio’s people. They are the most important key to TRC’s success. What began as a small staff of about 20 people has grown to include more than 500 team members, each contributing their energy and expertise to the future of mobility on the world’s roadways."
Mike Koralewski is the Chief Supply Chain Officer of First Solar, a leading American solar technology company and global provider of responsibly produced, eco-efficient solar modules advancing the fight against climate change. The company has the largest solar manufacturing footprint in the Western Hemisphere, including three factories in Ohio, where First Solar was founded.
"First Solar’s roots are in Ohio—we’ve had a manufacturing presence here for over two decades. The Toledo area, with its deep ties to the glass industry, was a natural incubator in the early years of our business, and we continue to build on the ecosystem that’s developed around our facilities. Ohio is the home of American solar. You have every aspect of the solar value chain here, from R&D, to our manufacturing footprint, which is the largest in the Western Hemisphere, to recycling.
"In our two decades of operating in Ohio, we’ve built a network of partners and suppliers, strong bonds with the local communities we live and work in, and a workforce that sets the bar for advanced manufacturing and research and development—not just within the company, but across our industry. Much of this is down to people, be it our partners and suppliers, our associates or the members of our community and their deep connection to our mission."
Giorgio Rizzoni is the director of the Ohio State University Center for Automotive Research (CAR), the preeminent research center in sustainable and safe mobility in the United States. With a concentration on preparing the next generation of automotive leaders, CAR is recognized for its interdisciplinary emphasis on systems engineering, unique experimental facilities and balance of government and privately sponsored research.
"Ohio is historically a strong manufacturing state with a great workforce. It’s also a state with a rapidly growing technology sector and a strong higher education system, and it’s emerging as the tech hub of the Midwest. The ecosystem that the state of Ohio has built in support of the automotive industry—including economic incentives through JobsOhio, a strong workforce development program with direct support from the governor’s office—has been very successful in growing new automotive business in the state.
"The proximity of TRC, the largest independent proving ground in the USA, and the special relationship between TRC and OSU, have created a unique relationship and a set of capabilities that are unmatched. In addition to the very close proximity of Honda, CAR is very much at the center of the U.S. auto industry, with the vast majority of U.S. automotive manufacturing, design and R&D activities occurring within 500 miles.
"Over the span of more than 30 years, CAR has become a preferred R&D partner to companies like Ford, General Motors, Honda, Stellantis and beyond, transferring innovation into product development and generating talent. Each year, hundreds of BS, MS and PhD students from OSU enter the automotive industry, directly transferring the knowledge they gain through their education to partner companies."
Bonny Simi is the Head of Air Operations and People at Joby Aviation, a transportation company developing an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxi, which it intends to operate as part of a fast, quiet and convenient service in cities around the world. In September 2023, Joby announced plans to build its first scaled aircraft production facility in Dayton, Ohio, capable of delivering up to 500 aircraft per year.
"After an extensive search involving numerous countries and U.S. states, with a number of compelling incentive offers, we selected Dayton, Ohio, to be the site of our first scaled aircraft production facility.
"There’s a highly trained aerospace workforce in Ohio, supported by leading educational institutions, and the state is a key supplier to companies like Airbus and Boeing. Dayton is home to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the home of our long-standing partners at AFWERX Agility Prime, as well as 40 percent of Air Force acquisition spending. And it’s just two hours away from Toyota’s largest U.S. factory. Toyota is Joby’s largest external shareholder; we work closely with them on the design and operation of our manufacturing facilities.
"Dayton is the birthplace of powered flight, and it’s where the Wright brothers built the first U.S. airplane factory in 1910. We’re proud to be building the future of aviation where it all started—and to be delivering a range of high-tech manufacturing jobs here in the United States."
