Economic Competitiveness Vision

Yet a new paradigm is emerging in Ohio that could signal a major turning point in this changing landscape. The JobsOhio model promotes sustainable economic growth that prepares our state for long-term stability. Together, we can create communities that are healthy, prosperous, and resilient. 

Assets like Ohio’s geographical location, land area, and infrastructure create an attractive foundation for prosperity.

• Capitalize on Ohio’s “Generational Opportunity” and historically large megaproject pipeline to win more than our fair share of economic development projects — by aggressively funding speculative site development across Ohio.
• Expand utility infrastructure to ensure sufficient capacity and access at key economic development sites.
• Seek ways to expand access to affordable high-speed internet, particularly in unserved and underserved areas of the state.
• Repair aging infrastructure like roads and bridges.
• Invest in airport modernization and grow air service connectivity at each of Ohio’s commercial airports.
• Facilitate access to job opportunities in both rural and urban areas of the state.

Our people are our greatest asset. Ohio cultivates talent who embody a spirit of dedication and pride and support for the state’s progress.

• Explore expanded opportunities for reskilling and upskilling.
• Promote opportunities for internships, co-ops, and other types of experiential learning.
• Minimize the impact of the “benefits cliff” to ensure individuals are not negatively impacted by seeking job opportunities.
• Strengthen alignment and collaboration within the educational community to create talent pipelines.
• Invest in K-12 education with a heavy focus on in-demand career fields.
• Expand childcare resources for employees balancing work and family.

The lightbulb, the airplane, the eVTOL: Ohio has always fostered a culture that supports a technically advanced society. The state prizes innovation.

• Building off the success of JobsOhio’s Innovation District strategy, seek opportunities to capitalize on the unique strengths of other Ohio communities and spur similar investments in innovation, R&D, talent production, and job creation.
• Position our state as a key player in innovative industries like the electric vehicle and semiconductor supply chain.
• Work to grow the amount of venture capital funds to back early-stage innovators.
• Adopt new technologies aimed at improving government efficiency and constituent service.
• Support companies seeking to modernize and automate their operations and supply chains.
• Embrace new and advanced forms of agriculture to complement Ohio’s robust traditional agribusiness sector.
• Enact policies to support additional early stage biohealth activities, such as clinical trials and R&D.

Ohio moves business forward. The state’s business-friendly approach drives ingenuity and prosperity, yielding jobs, high wages, and new ideas.

• Pursue regulatory accountability, certainty, and predictability.
• Streamline and simplify Ohio’s local tax structure to lower the tax burden for individuals and corporations, while continuing to support the ability of local communities to fund economic development initiatives.
• Offer incentives to secure generational investments by incentivizing both job creation and capital investment.
• Develop policy and regulation that welcomes and supports all forms of energy generation, including renewable energy sources, along with emerging technologies such as hydrogen and renewable natural gas.
• Support emerging technologies related to the energy transition, including the production, transportation, and consumption of hydrogen, along with carbon capture sequestration.

Ohio represents the best of what our country has to offer — opportunities for people to live their version of the American Dream.

• Invest in quality of life and community assets — education, the arts, parks and recreation, healthcare, housing, and transportation.
• Expand Ohio’s commitment to meaningful services for veterans and their families and enact policies to make Ohio the most veteran-friendly state in the nation.
• Promote principles of inclusion, ensuring traditionally underrepresented population groups and Ohioans in distressed geographies have access to economic opportunities.
• Enact policies to incentivize production of additional housing units in all areas of the state.