It’s true — the Columbus Region offers a well-educated population, a pro-business tax environment and a strategic location for doing local business in Ohio and beyond. However, the Region is home to much more. Global businesses like Vertiv, Intel, DHL and IBM find a top-ranked business climate with affordable real estate and diverse talent. More than 300 foreign-owned businesses are located within Central Ohio including Honda, which recently expanded its EV battery manufacturing operations in Fayette County and is retooling its assembly facilities in Marysville and East Liberty.
The Region has ranked in Site Selection Magazine’s Top 10 Metro Areas for new and expanded facilities since 2014. Companies that want to innovate and test their products and services in a region that is demographically representative of the nation find fertile ground in Columbus.
The Verve of Vertiv
Vertiv began in the Columbus Region in 1965 as the industry’s first manufacturer of computer room air conditioning. Now more than fifty years later, the IT infrastructure support provider employs approximately 24,000 people worldwide. Vertiv also does business in more than 130 countries according to their annual report.
Recently the company announced it would move its headquarters closer to its existing campuses in Westerville, Ohio. This will allow for closer collaboration between business units.
“Our company has been proud to call Central Ohio home for more than 70 years, and it’s fitting that Central Ohio has become one of the hottest data [centers] and technology hubs in the country,” said Vertiv CEO Rob Johnson in the company’s press release. “This is where we want to be, and we are excited to expand our Westerville campus and centralize our corporate operations.”
The company is committed to adding 100 new jobs by 2025 as part of a $3.6 million incentive package from the state of Ohio and the city of Westerville.
Ohio State University, which specializes in the research and development of hybrid and electrified vehicles.
Nearly a Century of Doing Business in Ohio
Battelle Memorial Institute is a renowned nonprofit research organization that has been based in the Columbus Region since 1929. The company now has more than 2,000 employees working in Central Ohio and manages over 40,000 employees at nine U.S. Department of Energy laboratories across America. Battelle is at the forefront of scientific research and innovation.
Through the Ohio State Battelle Center for Science, Engineering and Public Policy, Battelle connects scientists to public policymakers. The center also prepares STEM students to tackle societal, biological and environmental challenges with multidisciplinary innovation. In 2022 the company received the highest rating from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index — the national benchmarking tool for LGBTQ+ corporate policies.
Adaptability for Every Decade
Auto manufacturing in Central Ohio has a long legacy, with Honda being one of the most deep-rooted businesses. For over 40 years the company has been committed to doing business in Ohio, developing and manufacturing vehicles from its Marysville, Ohio plant. Starting a business in Ohio in the early 1980s was a big bet for Honda. It was the company’s first American light vehicle assembly plant, and it has grown to more than 4,700 employees with a capacity to produce 440,000 vehicles. In addition, Honda employs more than 4,300 production associates at other Central Ohio facilities.
Now, in partnership with LG Energy Solutions, Honda has initiated construction on a $3.5 billion battery plant in Fayette County. Bob Nelson, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., told reporters of the Columbus Dispatch that the location was chosen for its access to resources, availability of labor and the site’s proximity to Honda’s other Ohio plants. The new facility will employ 2,200 workers once fully functional in 2025.
Talent That Fills a Global Need
It’s no secret that semiconductor chips fell into a shortage in 2020. Essential in the production of everything from smartphones to electric vehicles, it became vital for the industry to recommit to the production of the brains of modern electronics. There could be no more experienced player in the industry than Intel.
For more than five decades, Intel’s digital technology has been improving the lives of people across the globe. In 2022 the company announced it would invest $20 billion in two new state-of-the-art semiconductor facilities in New Albany. This would allow them to hire employees that would create 3,000 jobs in the Region upon completion of the facilities in 2025.
Small Business Sector
Outside global players such as Intel and Battelle, the Columbus Region is also an excellent choice for small business owners. Columbus has a business-friendly environment, with low taxes and minimal regulations. The city also offers a range of incentives and grants to help grow or scale businesses.
The state also helps to make obtaining business licenses and permits seamless. It also can assist with opening a business bank account to contribute to the economy. For small business owners, the State of Ohio offers numerous tax incentives, meaning more of your personal assets can remain yours.
The Columbus Region has become an increasingly popular destination for global companies looking to relocate due to its strategic location, highly educated workforce, advanced infrastructure and access to major markets. Contact our experienced team to see how we can help your company tap into the Columbus Region’s steady growth.
