The OBDC blog provides insights from Ed Burghard, Executive Director of the Ohio Business Development Coalition, into Ohio executives' personal stories, industry facts and Ohio news stories. You'll find out about how, in Ohio, business success can be achieved in the broader context of a fulfilling life.
The Ohio Business Development Coalition is a nonprofit organization that provides marketing strategy and implementation to support Ohio's economic development.
Ed Burghard, Executive Director of the Ohio Business Development Coalition
The fact that Ohio continues to be recognized by some of the nation’s leading business publications is evidence that our economic development strategies for creating a healthy business development climate in the state are working. This further proves that Ohio should be on every CEO’s list of location options.
When executives grow their business in Ohio they not only find a nurturing business environment, but are also able to profit from the bottom-line benefits of better work-life balance for their employees. Ohio’s low-cost, low-stress communities and combination of micropolitan and metropolitan cities and short commutes provides executives and employees the resources and time to make any ambition achievable. Ohio truly is the state of perfect balance.
Click here to find out more about Ohio’s business environment and benefits of work-life balance.
On Tuesday Ohio was approved for $400 million in funding from the federal Race to the Top school reform grant program. This was the maximum amount Ohio requested.
Race to the Top is a $787 billion federal stimulus package that rewards states promising education reforms designed to improve outcomes and boost high-school retention rates and college preparedness.
This was the second-round of funding awarded for Race to the Top - only Delaware and Tennessee received funding in the first-round.
“Our students deserve every opportunity to succeed in and beyond the classroom, and I believe the creative and forward-thinking initiatives outlined in our winning application provide just that,” said Ohio Governor Ted Strickland. “Ohio has shown its commitment to encouraging innovation by passing successful economic development initiatives like Ohio Third Frontier, and this award builds on our job creation strategy by helping prepare the next generation of Ohio entrepreneurs and innovators.”
The Race to the Top application was submitted by the Ohio Department of Education in June. Ohio was selected as a finalist in late July and a team from Ohio presented to the U.S. Department of Education earlier this month.
Ohio has 538 school districts and individual schools representing about 1 million children who agreed to participate in Race to the Top programs. At least $200 million is heading directly to participating schools.
From K-12 schools that challenge and inspire students to be imaginative and analytical in their thinking, to post secondary institutions that develop hard-working, highly skilled graduates -- Ohio is continually ensuring that employers have a competitive advantage in the 21st century global marketplace.
For more information about Race to the Top and Ohio's commitment to education, click here.
Columbus, Ohio is hosting the International Economic Development Council's 2010 Annual Conference from September 26-29 at the Hyatt Regency Columbus. The IEDC annual conference is the world's largest gathering of economic developers to recognize the best economic development programs and partnerships, marketing materials, and the year's most influential leaders.
This year’s theme is "New Paradigms: The Practice of Economic Development in a Changed Landscape" -- and will explore how success is achieved by forward-thinking entrepreneurs and others willing to think outside the box. If you are interested in attending the conference in Columbus, Ohio, please click here.
The conference is expected to draw influential business leaders, economic professionals and academics to address current trends that are helping communities overcome the economic downturn. Scheduled events include engaging seminars, networking opportunities and educational tours.
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is the premier membership organization dedicated to helping economic development professionals create high-quality jobs, develop vibrant communities and improve the quality of life in their regions. Serving more than 4,600 members, IEDC represents the largest network of economic development professionals in the world. IEDC provides a diverse range of services, including conferences, certification, professional development, publications, research, advisory services and legislative tracking. For more information about IEDC visit www.iedconline.org.
Watch this video to find out more about Columbus, Ohio and IEDC.
The Ohio Third Frontier is Ohio's largest-ever commitment to high-tech job creation and economic progress. Created in 2002, the Ohio Third Frontier is an unprecedented commitment to create new technology-based products, companies, industries and jobs. In May, the Ohio Third Frontier was extended through 2015 indicating a widely held understanding by the populace that technology and innovation will lead to economic prosperity both today and for future generations.
The Ohio Third Frontier promotes economic growth by expanding the availability of investment capital needed to form new companies, supporting product innovation in established companies, facilitating commercialization of new products, funding collaborative projects between private companies and Ohio colleges and universities and nurturing Ohio's increasingly experienced pool of entrepreneurial management.
Watch this video to find out about how the Ohio Third Frontier is helping entrepreneurs find their opportunities in Ohio.
Looking for that perfect location to locate or expand your business? Check out Ohio InSite, a powerful site selection tool designed to help investors find the Ohio location that best suits their project's needs. It provides workforce and demographic data, business data, Ohio sites and buildings thematic maps.
Using Geographic Information System (GIS) technology users can quickly and easily identify the optimal location, down to a specific property, for any capital investment project in Ohio.
It's a great selection tool for businesses and consultants throughout the site selection process -- it efficiently and quickly delivers answers to the critical location decision questions through a map-based and dynamic interface.
The state’s attractive business environment is just one of many reasons CEOs are choosing the Buckeye State as a location for capital investment more often than any other state in the country. Ohio was recently awarded its fourth consecutive Governor’s Cup Award for leading the nation in new and expanded facilities and overall achievements in economic investments in 2009.
Ohio’s redesigned business climate and world-class transportation infrastructure allows businesses in any industry to be globally successful without executives and employees having to sacrifice their families or personal dreams. Ohio truly is the State of Perfect Balance.
The fact that Ohio continues to be recognized by some of the nation’s leading business publications is evidence that our economic development strategies for creating a healthy business development climate in the state are working. This further proves that Ohio should be on every CEO’s list of location options.
Race to the Top is a $787 billion federal stimulus package that rewards states promising education reforms designed to improve outcomes and boost high-school retention rates and college preparedness.