This week, several media outlets are visiting Ohio and the Columbus Region to cover the primary elections. We welcome them, and hope that they take time to take a look around, spend some money, and see what is being accomplished.
The facts are that the economy has been growing and the Columbus Region is doing as well as, if not better than, most metro areas in the United States. Investment has come from existing companies reinvesting in our 11 counties, from American companies expanding into our market for the first time, and from great companies outside the U.S. that are choosing to establish operations here. Jobs and investment are coming from our small businesses and startup community, and also from the 15 Fortune 1000 companies headquartered in our region. All of this activity is occurring in a wide variety of sectors and industries.
What is less visible is that thousands of people and hundreds of organizations come together each day to make positive change happen, and to address the challenges and obstacles we inevitably face. The Columbus Region’s private sector leaders are deeply engaged in our civic and economic development organizations across the Region, and our public leaders come together to deliver an environment where small and large companies can thrive and grow. Our nonprofit sector continues to innovate in order to address difficult socioeconomic issues, and our academic sector is working hard to keep pace with the increasing skills that are required of workers seeking career opportunities.
I also hope everyone sees that we treat each other with respect and dignity in the Columbus Region, because we know how tough it is to compete and win. And we know that we can’t do it alone.
-Kenny McDonald
One Columbus Update
- Columbus is one of seven finalist cities for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Smart City Challenge. This $40 million grant will help a city become the country’s first to fully integrate innovative technologies such as self-driving cars, connected vehicles and smart sensors into their transportation network. Share your support using #SmartColumbus and #MoveColumbus.
- This Thursday, the One Columbus Investor Update on Thursday will bring together three leaders of assets important to our pursuit of high-wage, technology-driven, globally-oriented business in the Columbus Region: Mark-Tami Hotta, president and CEO of the Transportation Research Center; Matt Wald, CEO of the Columbus Collaboratory; and David Whitaker, vice president, business development and communications at the Columbus Regional Airport Authority.