Ohio Wins Site Selection Governor’s Cup
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Ohio Leads Nation In New and Expanded Facility Investment
Columbus, Ohio – Governor Ted Strickland, Lt. Governor Lee Fisher, and Ohio Department of Development Director Lisa Patt-McDaniel today joined members of Ohio’s business and economic development communities to announce that the State of Ohio has been awarded Site Selection magazine’s fourth consecutive Governor’s Cup Award for leading the nation in new and expanded facilities in 2009.
The March edition of the magazine highlights the award, Ohio’s economic accomplishments, and the numerous Ohio cities around the state as the best in the country in their respective categories.
Cooperation Key
“One of the reasons I believe in Ohio is that companies know Ohio is a great place to do business,” Strickland said. “We have reduced taxes and regulations, we have increased the skills and education of our workforce, and we have been recognized once again by setting the pace for the nation in new and expanded capital investments.”
“Economic achievement only thrives when commitment and collaboration at the federal, state, and local level is attained on a daily basis,” Fisher said. “This award is shared with the Ohio economic development community and the people of Ohio, because only their ideas and talents help build and create a lasting positive change in Ohio. Let us use this momentum to continue building and growing Ohio’s economy with innovation and creative solutions.”
This year marks the eighth time Ohio has been awarded the Governor’s Cup, receiving the award in 1993, 1994, 1995, 2003, 2006, 2007, and 2008. The occasion marks the fourth win in a row for Ohio and our state’s fifth in seven years. The award is based on corporate location projects that meet at least one of three criteria: (a) involve a capital investment of at least $1 million, (b) create at least 50 new jobs or (c) add at least 20,000 square feet of new floor area.
“This award belongs to the Ohio economic development communities, which are leading Ohio’s efforts to bring prosperity to the people and businesses of our state,” Patt-McDaniel said. “We as a state are working with our local communities to give Ohioans a State of Perfect Balance between business pursuits and quality of life.”
Governor Strickland attributes Ohio’s fourth consecutive Governor’s Cup win to our state’s manufacturing strengths, logistics capabilities, skilled workforce and competitive business environment.
The City of Dayton played an outstanding role again this year, ranking number one in their category for the second year in a row in mid-sized metropolitan areas with populations between 200,000 and one million.
Cincinnati/Middletown ranked 6th among metros cities with a population over 1 million, which marks the eighth-consecutive time the city has been ranked in the Top 10 nationally (2002-2009).
Wooster, Ashtabula, and Findlay ranked 2nd, 6th and 10th respectively among micropolitan cities of 10,000 to 50,000 in population.
This award indicates the diligent efforts of elected officials, economic development professionals and private sector leaders as they work together to retain and attract capital investment in our state. Their efforts to stimulate economic growth have put Ohio on the top for the fourth consecutive year.
“The collaboration between business and state make for an ideal location for Alcoa,” said William F. Christopher, Alcoa Executive Vice President and President of Alcoa Engineered Products and Solutions. “Our revitalized press capacity will allow the continued presence of manufacturing operations in Cuyahoga County and provide continued growth and good jobs for years to come at Cleveland Works.”
Conway Data, Site Selection’s publisher, has annually recognized the U.S. state with the most new and expanded corporate facilities since 1978 as tracked by its New Plant database.
“It is a privilege to be the bearer of good news in the economic development arena, particularly during challenging economic times,” said Mark Arend, Editor in Chief of Site Selection. “Ohio fought hard in 2009 to win new projects and to expand existing operations in the state. Its 381 projects and fourth consecutive Governor’s Cup are proof that many companies are investing and growing in Ohio because they want to be there.”
The magazine’s yearly analyses are regarded by corporate real estate analysts as “the industry scoreboard.” Ohio won the award with 381 projects; Texas placed second with 374 projects, followed by Michigan (371), Pennsylvania (333) and Tennessee (234) to round out the top five. In addition, several cities ranked in the top 10 metropolitan and micropolitan categories for new and expanded corporate facilities.
“The Ohio Economic Development Association is honored to participate in today’s announcement,” said Mike Jacoby, President of OEDA. “Our members are often the front line of Ohio’s economic development efforts, and we work in close partnership with the talented professionals at the Ohio Department of Development. Ohio’s receipt of the Site Selection Governor’s Cup for the fourth year in a row is validation that Ohio continues to be viewed as a good location for investment by corporate America.”
Additional information about the Governor’s Cup is available at the Site Selection magazine Web site.
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