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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Moving up two spots from its ranking last year, the Columbus Region has been recognized as No. 8 on Site Selection magazine’s ‘Top 10 Metro Areas’ list, boasting 102 new and expanded facilities in 2013. Ohio repeated its second-place finish in the Governors Cup, with 480 projects, and also took the No. 2 spot in the per capita ranking.
“Being recognized as a Top 10 metro area and improving the Columbus Region’s ranking by two spots year-over-year is a testament to the collaboration and dedication of our local and state economic development partners,” said Kenny McDonald, chief economic officer, Columbus 2020. “Rankings like this help to cement the Region’s spot as a leader in economic development and reinforce that we are one of the strongest economies in the nation.”
The Columbus Region was recognized alongside peer metropolitan areas with populations greater than 1 million – including cities such as Chicago, Houston, Dallas and Atlanta, which occupied the top four spots. According to Site Selection’s criteria, new facilities and expansions included in the analyses must meet at least one of three criteria: involve a capital investment of at least $1 million; create at least 50 new jobs; or add at least 20,000 square feet of new floor area. The Columbus Region’s 102 new and expanded facilities added in 2013 were instrumental in the creation of 8,931 net new jobs in the Region last year.
For the second consecutive year, Ohio’s 480 new projects earned the No. 2 spot in Site Selection’s overall Governors Cup state ranking – second only to Texas. Ohio also took the second-place spot in the per capita ranking, with Nebraska earning the top spot.
“The fact that Columbus and Ohio are once again at the top of the list when it comes to attracting and expanding facilities is no surprise,” said Mark Patton, senior managing director, JobsOhio. “Columbus 2020 and JobsOhio’s other regional network partners are aggressively pursuing opportunities to create jobs and attract new capital investment, and these results reflect that hard work.”
For more information about Site Selection magazine’s other annual awards, and to see a full list of the honorees, visit SiteSelection.com.
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About Columbus 2020
Columbus 2020 is a public-private partnership that leverages the strengths of the Columbus Region’s talented workforce, small and large businesses, research and academic institutions, and international connections to ignite economic growth and build a healthier, more sustainable future for Central Ohio. The initiative grows our economy by ensuring that our existing companies are growing and thriving, that the world’s leading companies are attracted to the 11-county region, that innovations are cultivated and commercialized, and that our civic infrastructure is continually improving to meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving world economy. For more information, visit ColumbusRegion.com.
Contact:
Kenny McDonald
614-225-6063