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Columbus, Ohio – One Columbus, the economic development organization for the 11-county Columbus Region, has unveiled its new brand and strategic plan for the future, One Columbus. The One Columbus strategy sets forth a vision to be the most prosperous region in the United States. To support that vision, the One Columbus team will be focused on helping existing businesses grow and compete, diversifying the economy through the attraction of new businesses and supporting newly formed high-growth enterprises.
The One Columbus strategy was developed after extensive market research and input from business and civic leaders. The research helped define four critical imperatives for the future: sustain economic momentum; develop, inspire and attract a talented, adaptive and diverse workforce; enable additional innovation capacity; and increase global identity and connectivity.
Key objectives have also been defined for the One Columbus organization and its pursuit of current and emerging industry growth. The organization is committed to working with its local and state partners to achieve results greater than the last decade, predicting a 10-15% increase in jobs, payroll and investment while focusing on removing barriers to growth and prosperity.
“Success breeds confidence, and confidence fuels momentum. Both are necessary components to achieve the next phase of the Columbus Region’s growth,” said Pablo Vegas, chairman of the board of directors of One Columbus.
Established in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, the One Columbus Regional Growth Strategy successfully paved a new path for the Columbus Region, propelled by a need for economic activity and job growth. The past decade has seen the Columbus Region successfully compete for jobs, investment and payroll from growing companies in the Region and around the world. The effort also increased per capita income by nearly 30% and created a sustainable tax base to serve residents, build infrastructure and improve the quality of life across Central Ohio.
“Our leadership has defined a bold and ambitious vision for our Region that gives even greater purpose to our mission,” said Kenny McDonald, president and CEO of One Columbus. “The past decade has shown that when we work together as a Region, invest consistently in ourselves, and pursue big initiatives, we are one of the most powerful metro areas in the U.S. The One Columbus strategy seeks to not only serve the citizens of this Region, but to provide a new definition of economic development success.”
The Columbus Region is home to a population of 2.2 million people and a growing workforce of more than 1.1 million. The Region is home to 15 Fortune 1000 companies and more than 50 college and university campuses, including The Ohio State University, one of the most comprehensive universities in the world. The Columbus Region is well-known globally for its prowess in critical industries such as automotive, retail, logistics, bio-health and finance and insurance. A growing number of successful start-ups, venture-backed companies and entrepreneurs are helping to define the area as the technology hub of the Midwest.
For an overview of the One Columbus strategy, please visit the One Columbus page of ColumbusRegion.com.
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About One Columbus
As the economic development organization for the 11-county Columbus Region, One Columbus’ mission is to lead a comprehensive regional growth strategy that develops and attracts the world’s most competitive companies, grows a highly adaptive workforce, prepares our communities for the future, and inspires corporate, academic and public innovation throughout the Columbus Region. One Columbus expertly guides companies through the location decision process. Through strategic business outreach and customized research, the One Columbus team leverages public, private and institutional partnerships to grow the Columbus Region’s economy and strengthen its national and international competitiveness. Funding is received from more than 300 private organizations, local governments, academic institutions and JobsOhio. Learn more at ColumbusRegion.com.
One Columbus Media Contact
Amy Harman
614-225-6070
ah@columbusregion.com