There has to be at least some correlation between March Madness and economic development, right? Sure!
NCAA basketball tournaments draw attention not only from the fans who follow their teams all year but also from the general public, because anyone can win if they just get in the game. Small and large schools compete under enormous pressure to survive each round in an effort to take home the ultimate prize. The college basketball world is indeed flat – more teams seem to have a legitimate chance to win as each year passes.
The same is becoming true for U.S. metros. Within the top 50 metro areas in the U.S., competition for businesses is increasingly fierce. More and more cities have the infrastructure, workforce and cultural assets to compete with the very largest cities. Companies and talented people have access to research that allows them to narrow their search based on their unique needs and preferences. Smaller metro regions may be less costly, while bigger cities have tremendous scale. In today’s world, with access to technology and the mobility of the workforce, companies have more choices than ever.
This is why we strive to speak to growing companies within the Columbus Region and throughout the world. Perhaps we are the right fit for their next project, or for the entrepreneur with the next big innovation. We must continue to compete day after day to win the attention of companies and talented people. That’s why we play the game.
-Kenny McDonald
One Columbus Update
- Congrats to WELD for their terrific event with Gwen Ifill last week. She was an outstanding spokeswoman for women in leadership.
- Our team is preparing for a few upcoming trips to Germany and to California in just a few weeks.
- Congrats also to the Licking County Port Authority for a terrific trip to Washington, D.C. to advocate for the terrific work being done at the Boeing facility in Heath. More than 40 leaders met with the entire Central Ohio delegation to let them know how important the facility is to the Columbus Region and Licking County.
- On April 12 in Lewis Center, Senator Portman will host business and education leaders for the Ohio Jobs and Workforce Development Summit. We encourage Columbus Region business and education stakeholders to attend, to hear examples of industry and education workforce collaboration and to share your experiences, needs and resources. For details and to RSVP, contact Suzanne_Hawk@Portman.senate.gov.