Agribusiness Companies Choose Ohio As Unbeatable Location

By: Matt McQuade, Ohio Business Development Coalition

Ohio is at the center of the U.S. agribusiness industry - literally. Located at the crossroads of the nation’s Grain Belt region and eastern markets, Ohio offers agribusiness companies everything necessary for a successful operation. The state’s convergence of key assets equates to 1,106 processing and production plants, food industry exports of over $25 billion annually, and headquarters for renowned companies such as Kroger, Chiquita, J.M. Smucker and Bob Evans.

In Ohio, agribusiness companies are able to bring in bulk raw materials and ship out finished goods at low cost.  Ohio is located within a one day trucking distance of 60 percent of both the U.S. and Canadian populations with multi-modal transportation options to receive and ship goods.  Access to the Great Lakes, rivers and vast aquifers further separates Ohio from other states, providing agribusiness companies with some of the nation’s largest and most productive sources of potable water.

Ohio’s competitiveness in agribusiness is strengthened by the lowest taxes in the Midwest and public-private research support to accelerate business growth. The state’s tax structure reduces operating costs by not assessing a tax on corporate income, tangible personal property or in-state sales, allowing companies to boost return on investment and maximize profits. In addition, Ohio’s state-supported research assets allow companies to research, develop and commercialize breakthrough innovations. The Edison Center for Innovative Food Technology helps companies improve their competitive position in the agribusiness industry through the development and adaption of emerging technologies.

Click here to learn more about why Ohio is an unbeatable location for agribusiness companies.