Ohio's success as the nation's top automotive supplier is due in large part to the individual success of companies like Honda of America Manufacturing (Honda).
Recently, Honda celebrated two major Ohio milestones. The first being the ten-millionth car produced at the company's Marysville, Ohio plant. And the second is the celebration of the company's 25-year anniversary making auto engines in Anna, Ohio. Honda's major milestones not only highlight the company's impact on Ohio's automotive industry, but also its impact on economic development, employment and housing growth within the state.
Honda now employs more than 4,400 workers and is credited with business, retail and housing growth in the Marysville area. In the last five years alone, Marysville retailers have added more than 700,000 square feet of retail space in light of growing demand. The benefits extend beyond the local economy; Honda employs 13,500 Ohioans and contracted for $5.5 billion in auto parts in 2009 from 160 auto parts suppliers.
Ohio's network of auto suppliers represents all facets of motor vehicle production. In fact, motor vehicle manufactures produce 15 percent of the state's total economic output.
Ohio is home to some of the best and brightest talent in the automotive industry, and continues to provide the necessary tools to allow both businesses and individuals the opportunity to pursue both their professional and personal aspirations without having to sacrifice one for the other. Ohio truly is the state of Perfect Balance.
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.
Cathy Falkenberg and her husband, Rob, who is CEO of UnitedHealthcare of Ohio, relocated to Ohio in 2005 from Dallas to pursue a promising career and life opportunity. While relocating her family across the country was challenging, life in Ohio quickly reassured Cathy they had found their "home." I asked her if she could describe in one word what it means to live in Ohio. Her answer? Access.
She shared with me, "Accessibility is what makes Ohio shine. Ohio is an accessible state, in every sense of the word. Commuting to work and school is easier here. It is a refreshing change from other areas of the country where we have lived. I don't have to plan more than an hour in just commute time. We spend less time in the car and more time doing the things we love to do. We also have easy access to family in other states."
"Ohio has a very strong work-life balance, and I would definitely say that having the right balance is more attainable here than any other place I have lived," Cathy continued. "Ohio's communities are very supportive. Its metropolitan areas are not pretentious but are still very cosmopolitan. I value the fact that there is cultural diversity here. The work:life balance here is very attractive, no matter what your age is."
Name a country anywhere in the world and chances are Jaime Sisto has been there, developing new economic opportunities for Ohio. In fact, after working in more than 40 countries as an economic development attorney and the former international trade director for two Ohio governors, he's lost count of the places he's traveled. Watch the video to find out how Jaime continues to strengthen Ohio's growth nationally and internationally as the president of Value Recovery Group.
He shares, "There are great places every where in the world. But if you have to pick one to live in and work in, Ohio has presented a great foundation for me, the company I work for and my family."
Colorado biomedical company, Lanx Inc., has chosen Ohio as the location to launch its Lumbar Motion Monitor Commercialization project. The company, which chose Ohio over other Midwest states, said the state's biomedical industry and support from programs like Ohio Third Frontier were key to the decision.
"Ohio is an attractive location for the Lanx Diagnostic division because of its existing strengths in the biomedical industry and resources such as Ohio Third Frontier and TechColumbus," said Stuart Born, Director, Lanx Diagnostic. "These benefits coupled with the close proximity to our collaborators, allow us to further develop an important innovative new tool that will essentially help surgeons and other clinicians further optimize patient care."
According to the 2009 "Making an Impact" report conducted by SRI, Ohio Third Frontier's strategies for investing in Ohio's high-tech clusters contain all the elements associated with global best practices in technology cluster development, and indicate that these investments are already generating positive economic outcomes for Ohio's economy in terms of growth in technology sector employment, output and wages. Since its inception, the Ohio Third Frontier has created, capitalized or attracted more than 600 companies, has 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.
Click here to read more about why Lanx chose Ohio.
Recently, Honda celebrated two major Ohio milestones. The first being the ten-millionth car produced at the company's Marysville, Ohio plant. And the second is the celebration of the company's 25-year anniversary making auto engines in Anna, Ohio. Honda's major milestones not only highlight the company's impact on Ohio's automotive industry, but also its impact on economic development, employment and housing growth within the state.
