When she started her business more than 25 years ago, Nancy Kramer never dreamed she'd be able to build an industry-leading digital marketing agency with a client list that includes many of the world's most exciting and best-known brands. But that's exactly what she and her staff have done.
Today, Resource Interactive conducts business around the world on a daily basis from its offices in Columbus' energetic downtown Arena district, undeniable proof that the business world truly is flat. And that Ohio is the perfect location for those who wish to have successful companies and careers without sacrificing the quality of their personal lives.
A dedicated mother of three, Nancy can't imagine anyplace else where she could achieve what she has professionally and still have the time and opportunity to participate fully in the lives of her children...scheduling her work around school board meetings, high school soccer games and a variety of family activities that maximize their time together. It's important to Nancy that her employees are able to enjoy that same freedom. In Ohio, they can.
In the State of Perfect Balance, anything is possible.
Ohio’s strategic location brings together all of the elements that comprise food production and underlies the state’s strength in food processing. Ohio's rich food production industry is a diverse sector that includes farming, seed supply, agrichemicals, agbioscience, farm machinery, wholesale and distribution, processing, marketing, and retail sales. In 2009, Ohio’s food and beverage manufacturing industry shipped $24 billion worth of products. Ohio currently ranks first in the production of Swiss cheese, and second in the production of tomatoes. The industry employs more than 60,000 workers at 1,106 production plants.
Ohio agricultural and food processing product rankings:
1st in the production of Swiss Cheese in the United States
2nd in the production of eggs
3rd in fresh and processed tomatoes
5th overall in food processing
World’s largest yogurt plant (Dannon) in Auglaize County, Ohio
Located between the grain belt and the populous Eastern markets, Ohio is a great location for food processing companies to do business. In fact, Ohio is within 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) of 61 percent of all U.S. and Canadian manufacturing locations. Combined with a strong transportation infrastructure and intermodal connections, and a low-cost business environment, Ohio is the best location to access your suppliers and customers.
Ohio's world-class logistics capabilities help manufacturing companies reduce operating costs by getting components and finished goods quickly to their destination anywhere in the U.S. or around the globe. Ohio's extensive logistics management network supports the state's 21,250 manufacturing companies with multi-modal and inter-modal networks allowing efficient import and export of products-180 public airports, eight interstate highways, 36 freight railroads and 25 waterfront ports.
Andre Thornton's professional history is marked by a series of successful roles ranging from an acclaimed major league baseball player, to father of three sons, to his current role as leader of one of the largest minority owned and certified third party logistics company in America, ASW Global. By locating in Ohio, ASW Global has easy access to much of the country. And, by operating in Foreign Trade Zone #181, Thornton has a competitive advantage through the ability to provide more than 150 clients with tax and duty benefits. "Ohio is a wonderful location for a logistics company's headquarters. We have access to 65 percent of the North American population within a one-day haul," says Thornton. "In addition, Ohio's world-class transportation infrastructure gives our clients access to rail, water, air and road to cost effectively move their product."
Read more how Ohio's business environment helped ASW Global become the highly successful logistics company it is today.
Bioscience innovation doesn't come cheap or easy. New discoveries equal high R&D expenses and bringing the solution to market is another challenge.
Ohio offers bioscience companies unique support to fuel their business forward. The state's supportive business environment and industry collaboration helps bioscience businesses research, develop and commercialize innovative scientific solutions while maximizing ROI.
According to the latest industry growth report from BioOhio, Ohio is home to 1,345 bioscience entities in operation throughout the state from Fortune 500 public companies to incubating start-ups. This concentration of bioscience companies is proof of Ohio's commitment to establishing an international leadership role in the bioscience industry to help companies find innovative and cost-effective solutions to scientific challenges.
From 2004 to 2010, Ohio attracted 413 new or relocated companies focused on bioscience and bioproducts - an average of 59 each year. Recent examples include Mammotome, Cleveland HeartLab, Accord Biomaterials, and Nanofiber Solutions. In addition, more than 1,000 other organizations provide supplies and services, creating a rich bioscience supply chain and service system that sustains growth of both new and established businesses.
According to a recent report from CNNMoney.com, Ohio has seen 20 percent job growth in the biotech sector over the last ten years due to both big businesses and startups. Watch this video.
Cost is a major consideration when a company chooses a location. The ideal business location maximizes the value of the investment by delivering a perfect balance between access to mission-critical resources and low overhead costs.
Ohio continues to gain recognition for its favorable business climate and tax structure, combined with low business and personal costs, make the state an increasingly viable location for business growth. According to CNBC’s “America’s Top States for Business 2011” report, Ohio ranks 5th in the nation for Cost Of Doing Business. Ohio improved to 5th place from 29th place last year due to a multi-year effort to reform the state’s tax structure, which took full effect in 2010.
The CNBC ranking is based on tax burden, including individual income and property taxes, as well as business taxes, particularly as they apply to new investments. Costs for utilities, wages, and rental costs for office and industrial space were also considered (rental cost information furnished by CoStar Group).
The top five states for Cost of Doing Business are Iowa and Arkansas tied for first place, followed by Missouri, Kentucky and Ohio.
“Just one of Ohio’s many business incentives includes a sweeping tax reform, which is recognized as a key contributor to keeping overhead costs down,” said former Ohio Tax Commissioner Thomas M. Zaino, J.D., CPA, now member in charge of the Columbus office of the McDonald Hopkins LLC law firm. “In fact, Ohio was recently recognized as having the third friendliest tax environment in the nation.”
Zaino refers to the report issued by the Quantitative Economics and Statistics Practices (QUEST) of Ernst & Young in conjunction with the Council On State Taxation (COST), which provides a state-by-state comparison of tax liabilities, ranking Ohio third in the nation for friendliest tax environment.
Ohio’s proactive, business-friendly redesign was implemented to help companies better compete in a 21st century global economy and deliver the perfect balance businesses and their owners need to achieve that success.
Read today's press release to find out more about the cost of doing business in Ohio.
When she started her business more than 25 years ago, Nancy Kramer never dreamed she'd be able to build an industry-leading digital marketing agency with a client list that includes many of the world's most exciting and best-known brands. But that's exactly what she and her staff have done.