Post in Attracting New Businesses to Central Ohio

Jul 02 09:43 UTC

One of the first things we need to do is to promote the image of Ohio as being
a business friendly state with more economic advantages than others.  This is
based on one simple fact - businesses do not do anything without a cost-benefit
analysis of how decisions impact their bottom line.  If the cost of doing
business is higher in Ohio than another location, they will go there.  However,
if they believe that Ohio can offer them something they need - Ohio suddenly
becomes more attractive.  I know its a college student 'party-line' of sorts,
but - in the region we have some amazing universities producing a number of
innovative, progressive, intelligent young professionals.  Bringing in
businesses and the economic opportunities that come with them may serve to keep
some of those new workers (the former students) in the region.

It is important to dispel some of the recent negative publicity that has come
up and serves to hurt the image of our state and region.
For example see:
http://www.nbc4i.com/midwest/cmh/news.apx.-content-articles-CMH-2008-06-30-0013.html
and the WSJ article in full:
http://wsj.com/public/article_print/SB121460691372812085.html

Yes, we may be losing some of those bright young minds that are receiving
degrees at our fine Universities - but I think that if we are able to bring in
companies that can offer good wages and opportunities for security and
advancement those new graduates will stay.  Another measure that may help is to
foster a sense of belonging, involvement, and community - that can help recent
graduates to have a mindset of wanting to stay, as opposed to growing up and
looking for the door because they lack a real connection to the region.