Ohio Claims More "Fastest Growing Tech Cities" Than Any Other State

COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Great companies start out as great ideas. But commercialization of even the best idea requires development. The ideal location is close to a strong, cooperative academic community that delivers a skilled labor pool, the latest technologies, research and development, and knowledge relevant to the business. It has networks of other experienced entrepreneurs and successful business people ready to share their expertise. It's an environment that encourages and stimulates the sharing and transfer of knowledge to the benefit of the entrepreneur.

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And for those in high-tech industries, finding this ideal location is critical for survival. The growing demand for high-tech jobs means entrepreneurs and businesses owners face greater obstacles and competition when starting and growing a business – and employees face greater competition for quality jobs. The high-tech job "gold rush" has all but saturated many metropolitan and micropolitan markets. However, as the Midwest continues to transform its historic strengths in manufacturing and build the high-tech job opportunities needed to compete in a 21st century global economy, Ohio's high-tech workers are seeing a business boom in the Buckeye State.

As evidence of the Midwest region's impact on the resurging economy, Ohio has claimed more of the nation's "fastest growing tech cities" than any other state according to Dice.com, the leading career website for technology and engineering professionals. The fastest-growing metro areas for technology job openings in terms of year-over-year growth since February 2010 include Cincinnati with 75 percent growth, Cleveland with 62 percent growth and Columbus with 57 percent growth.

The surge in Ohio's high-tech job growth is further proof that its purposeful business redesign with a low-cost tax structure is leading the way in creating 21st century job opportunities for the state's high-quality, skilled workforce and making businesses more competitive around the world.

Ohio is serious about the business of creating jobs, continually developing its workforce and ensuring that employers have a competitive advantage in a global marketplace. The state's commitment to meeting the workforce and talent development needs of businesses and preparing workers for employment is evidenced by the breadth and depth of its education and workforce development resources. From K-12 schools that challenge and inspire students to be both imaginative and analytical in their thinking, to postsecondary institutions that promote the development of moral character and produce highly skilled graduates, every level of Ohio's education and workforce development system is designed to create an educated, innovative and reliable workforce.

The continued acceleration of progress in developing markets coupled with advances in telecommunications technology have created a world where there is an increased number of viable competitive locations available from which employees, employers and capital investors can choose. As a result, many states are seeing a declining share of global capital dollars being invested.

Understanding today's global economy, Ohio lawmakers dramatically revamped the state's tax structure, creating the lowest rates in the Midwest and an extremely profit-friendly business climate for companies that locate in the state. High-tech industries such as advanced energy, advanced materials, polymers, bioscience, aerospace and instruments and control technologies have found business success in Ohio.

"Ohio has proactively redesigned its business climate to support a leading 21st century global economy," said Ed Burghard, executive director of the Ohio Business Development Coalition, the nonprofit organization that markets the state for capital investment. "Strategic tax reform and economic development incentives encourage global success and make the state an ideal location to profitably compete from in the global marketplace."

For Paul Kolada, principal and founder of Priority Designs, a leading international industrial design consultant and product development firm in Columbus, their location in Ohio has enabled their success.

"Strategically, serving the global market is key to our future growth. Ohio's business climate and commitment to serving the global marketplace makes the state the ideal location for our company to grow and succeed," said Kolada.

When a company is looking to hire new employees, it isn't the percentage of the total population that matters. Instead, it is the number of available people with the right knowledge and skills from which employers can choose. Ohio is a juggernaut of worker productivity with 180,000 graduating high school seniors and more than 78,000 college graduates ready to join the workforce every year. In addition, the state offers unique workforce programs for continuing education to help employers conduct necessary training in partnership with industry.

Craig Shular, CEO of GrafTech International, Inc. in Parma, the largest suburb of Cleveland, knows it takes a skilled workforce to improve productivity and quality and drive profits. He said, "Our partnership with Ohio gives us a competitive edge in developing and commercializing new products."

Ohio is recognized nationally and worldwide as a business location with unbeatable access to Midwestern, Central Canadian and Mid-Atlantic markets, and with its sophisticated transportation infrastructure represents a strong global platform to route goods and services to anywhere in the world. Ohio is within 600 miles of 60 percent of the U.S. population and 50 percent of the Canadian population.

In addition, strategic investments by the Ohio Third Frontier are paving the way for commercialization of new technologies. Since its inception, the Ohio Third Frontier has created, capitalized or attracted more than 600 companies, created nearly 55,000 direct and indirect jobs and helped create $6.6 billion in economic impact in Ohio – a 9:1 return on investment.

Ohio's high-tech workforce and education programs, access to markets, low start-up costs and access to business capital and support services create the ideal business start-up location.

Ohio's success is not solely dependent on the strength of its business advantages. Today's industry leaders have made Ohio a top choice to pursue their personal goals as well.

"In Ohio, work-life balance is more than a buzzword; it's the way we do business," Burghard said. "Low-cost, low-stress communities and short commutes create the State of Perfect Balance, where you can achieve both professional and personal success without sacrificing one for the other."

About the Ohio Business Development Coalition

The Ohio Business Development Coalition is a nonprofit organization that provides marketing strategy and implementation to support Ohio's economic development efforts. For more information, visit www.ohiomeansbusiness.com.

SOURCE Ohio Business Development Coalition