News & Media

Broadband Conference Could Lead to Help for Rural Areas

Thursday, February 27, 2020

State Representative Gary Scherer recently hosted a public meeting in Circleville to discuss broadband coverage in his district. Scherer says “Connected Nation Ohio held seven Rural Broadband Forums throughout the state and after attending the Newark session, I knew that we needed to hold an eighth forum in the 92nd house district,” said Scherer. “Broadband access is a significant issue among many constituents. As I tell the people around the Statehouse, my home is only 25 miles from downtown Columbus and yet we have little to no broadband access.” Read full article.

Munchies sports bar opens in Reynoldsburg with ‘taste of Mexico’

Thursday, February 27, 2020

After more than a year of renovation, a former Japanese steakhouse has been transformed into an American sports bar with a touch of Tex-Mex. Munchies Comfort Food and Drinks opened last month at 2045 Brice Road, Reynoldsburg, in the building that housed a Genji Japanese Steakhouse for more than 20 years. “It’s been quite a journey; it took us a little over a year,” said Sarai Pulido, who runs the restaurant with her husband, Victor. “It’s our baby, so like any mother you think your child is beautiful. So for me this place is beautiful. There’s detail in everything that we di...

Husted leads discussion on Edison’s Ohio TechCred program

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

PIQUA — The changing workforce in Ohio and qualifications for employment are challenges business owners face every day. The state is hoping the TechCred program will provide training for current and future workers for employers. Lt. Gov. Jon Husted led a roundtable discussion on the program at Edison State Community College on February 24th. Read full article.

The future of retail in the US: industry trends and market trends

Monday, February 24, 2020

Retail sales volume was higher in 2019 than ever before — and it will only continue trending upward as the entire experience becomes more streamlined and frictionless for customers. However, the face of the industry is changing rapidly; Business Insider Intelligence recently reported that in 2019 ecommerce sales surpassed 10% of total retail sales for the first time ever. The growing online trend impacts both e-tailers and brick-and-mortar sellers. Because merchants must embrace ecommerce to boost their own growth, the roles of solutions providers like BigCommerce and Shopify, as well as marketplaces like Amazon, could expand further in the coming years, due t...

Manufacturing Accounts for 20% of Regional Economy

Saturday, February 22, 2020

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio –Projected job openings and the potential for growth through technology could be keys in accelerating the manufacturing industry in northeastern Ohio, concludes a pair of industry reports. The region’s $42.6 billion manufacturing industry employs more than 270,000 workers and is responsible for 20% of its economy, according to the Quarterly Economic Review from Team NEO, a nonprofit economic development organization covering 18 counties in northeastern Ohio. Read full article.

Report finds Ohio is a commercial real estate powerhouse

Friday, February 21, 2020

Ohio is a commercial real estate powerhouse, according to a new report published by the NAIOP Research Foundation. The state is No. 7 nationwide for contributions to state GDP created by commercial real estate development, creating and supporting 146,787 related jobs and contributing $20.1 billion to Ohio's economy in 2019, the report finds. The six states ranked above Ohio by commercial real estate development impact are Texas ($54.1 billion), California ($34.5 billion), New York ($31.8 billion), Virginia ($28.1 billion), Georgia ($27.5 billion) and Florida ($25.8 billion). Go here for a breakdown of the top 10 states. State reports are here. Read full article.

'Opportunity Zone' offers potential for downtown

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Cleveland Mayor Kevin Brooks said during a recent presentation that a sector of the city’s downtown area meets the requirements as a qualified Opportunity Zone, where investors can benefit from tax breaks offered through the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The mayor’s remarks were made during the Bradley Sunrise Rotary Club’s weekly meeting held at Elks Lodge No. 1944. Brooks said the tax incentives will benefit the entire Whirlpool and Old Woolen Mill area downtown, as well as South Lee Highway, adding that they are the sole areas in Bradley County that qualify for the tax incentives. Read full article.

Delta lifts off with $1 billion pledge to become carbon neutral

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Delta Air Lines has become the latest aviation company setting its sights on becoming "carbon neutral," with an ambition to reach that target by 2030 and pledge to invest $1 billion in achieving the goal over the next 10 years. The investment will focus on driving innovation, advancing clean air travel technologies, accelerating reductions in waste and emissions, and establishing new offsetting and natural carbon sequestration projects, the company said. Read full article.

Small business confidence rises, signaling a more positive outlook for the US economy

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Small business sentiment is on the rise to kick off 2020, with confidence nearing all-time highs, according to data from CNBC and SurveyMonkey. The CNBC/SurveyMonkey Small Business Confidence Index climbed two points in the first quarter, from 59 to 61, as concerns over trade policy impacts lessened, thanks to a trade deal with China and the signing of the USMCA. This is a sharp turnaround from the lows seen last summer as trade turmoil weighed on Main Street’s outlook. The Small Business Confidence Index is calculated based on entrepreneurs’ responses to a set of eight questions about their businesses as part o...

The Hidden Power of Guarantees in Community Development Finance

Thursday, February 20, 2020

If you’ve ever had someone co-sign a loan for you, then you know how a guarantee works. That other person, maybe a parent or relative, is promising the bank that in case you can’t make your monthly payment, they’ll make the payment in your place. If all goes well, your parent or relative may never need to step up for you. This process is often a formality, but it can also be a prohibitive barrier if you don’t have a parent or relative with good credit. Guarantees are a very common tool to support financial institutions themselves. The Federal Deposit Insuranc...

Violet Township Women’s League scholarship program hits $100,000 milestone

Monday, February 17, 2020

The Violet Township Women’s League will reach milestones in giving in 2020 through its annual scholarship program. Thanks to donations from members, businesses and others in the community, as well as funds raised through the club’s annual Scholarship Style Show & Luncheon, the organization has been able to provide financial assistance to graduating seniors who live in the Pickerington Schools district and Violet Township as they pursue higher education at four-year colleges, two-year associate’s-degree colleges and trade schools. Read full article.

Cuyahoga County considers $1.5M loan for Saucy Brew Works brewery, production facility in Independence

Thursday, February 13, 2020

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Cuyahoga County is considering a $1.5 million loan to Saucy Brew Works for a new brewpub and production facility in Independence. The Cuyahoga County Community Improvement Corporation, which reviews proposed economic development projects, has recommended the county award the loan, pending approval by County Council. Read full article.

Mayor details plans for new police substation, grocery store during State of the City

Thursday, February 13, 2020

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX/WTTE) — In his State of the City address Thursday, Mayor Andrew Ginther started the evening in what he called a "non-traditional" way. "Black people and communities of color are angry, frustrated, tired and even fearful about many things happening around the country and in the City of Columbus," he said at the start of the night. It was a point that comes back to what he described as his overarching message: equity. Read full article.

Regional leaders need to join together to stay competitive in the global market

Thursday, February 13, 2020

In 2014, St. Petersburg, Fla. mayor Rick Kriseman and Tampa mayor Bob Buckhorn went on a trade mission to Chile. But, in recognizing that scale matters in such attempts at global competitiveness, the two mayors made their trip not as representatives of two separate cities, but as dual ambassadors of the Tampa Bay region. Prior to the trade mission, the economic development organizations (EDOs) of three neighboring Florida counties—Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Pasco—joined forces to create Global Tampa Bay, aligning their international business engagement strategy in a regional economic partnership. This meant pooling resources, sharing a budget, taking turns as chair, an...

Church & Dwight to invest $38 million, add 60 jobs at OF plant

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

OLD FORT — Church & Dwight Co. Inc. has announced it plans to invest $38 million at its facility in Old Fort to expand one product, add a new one and build a new warehouse. Nick Dutro, development manager for Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership, said final approval for the project depends on approval of state and local incentives. If approved, he said construction is expected to be completed this year, and the company would hire up to 60 new employees. The incentive package was approved Monday night by Old Fort Local School District’s board, Dutro said, and still must be approved by Pleasan...

Spectrum expands broadband access to rural Athens County

Friday, February 07, 2020

Broadband access in Athens County just got a boost from Spectrum Internet, one of the largest internet service companies in the country. At a celebration at the Ohio University Inn and Conference Center on February 7th, representatives from Charter Communications and Spectrum announced the completion of a new 20-mile fiber build that gives broadband access to more than 2,400 houses and businesses in rural parts of the county. “Broadband is a life-changing opportunity for our consumers,” Ron Testa, the area vice president for field operations, said. Read full article.

Taxpayers save $240 million by investing in Ohio opportunity zones

Friday, February 07, 2020

Taxpayers stand to save millions in income tax by reinvesting capital gains into opportunity zones. Opportunity zones are a bipartisan-sponsored federal tax incentive designed to encourage investment in distressed neighborhoods. Many Central Ohio entrepreneurs have started new business ventures in opportunity zones because these federal and state income tax benefits, coupled with other federal and local programs designed to support private investment into opportunity zones, have created a new, tax-advantaged capital market for business investment. Read full article.

JobsOhio creates $4 million fund to lure new flights to Ohio airports, including Cleveland Hopkins

Tuesday, February 04, 2020

CLEVELAND, Ohio — JobsOhio, the economic development arm of state government, has set aside $4 million this year to help Ohio’s airports attract new flights to unserved or underserved markets, including, potentially, highly sought transatlantic service. Airport directors in Ohio have complained for years that they’re at a competitive disadvantage with airports in neighboring states, including Indiana and Pennsylvania, which have funds to lure coveted airline service. Read full article.

Economic Development Administration to award $720,000 grant for disaster recovery

Monday, February 03, 2020

DAYTON, Ohio (WKEF/WRGT) -- On Monday, a $720,000 grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) to the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (MVRPC) of Dayton, Ohio. This grant is to assist in hiring a Disaster Recovery Manager, whose job will be to assist the businesses damaged or destroyed by the storms in May of 2019. The Disaster Recovery Manager will also be responsible for preparing a strategy that will enhance the region’s ability to quickly respond to future disasters. Read full article.

Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District to give $150,000 in grants

Monday, February 03, 2020

DAYTON, Ohio (WKEF/WRGT) -- The Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District (MCACD) announced on Monday that it is giving up to $150,000 in funding for the 2020 Montgomery County Special Projects Grants program. MCACD is a special purpose unit of government that was created in 1990 by the Montgomery County Board of County Commissioners. This year marks 30 years of MCACD grant programs, during which time more than $25 million has been awarded to major arts and cultural institutions, community organizations, small emerging arts organizations, and individual artists. Read full article.

20 Conferences That Should Be on Your List for 2020

Saturday, February 01, 2020

Say "yes" to a conference that sparks your interest. It could be the best thing you do all year. It's 2020. Are you ready to say "yes" to your resolutions, bold plans and big goals? The beginning of a new year is a great opportunity to think about all the changes and upgrades you want to make in your business and personal lives. Attending a conference is one of the best ways to add new energy to your life. A great conference will put you in a position to create meaningful relationships, meet new people who can help you (or that you can help), close deals...

Clyburn says House infrastructure plan would expand broadband internet to '100 percent' of US

Thursday, January 30, 2020

House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) touted a new infrastructure plan being put forth by Democrats. Clyburn told Hill.TV that the comprehensive plan aims to expand broadband internet to "100 percent" of the United States, effectively getting rid of “digital deserts” — or areas without a single internet service provider. Read full article.

Full story: Westerville leaders looking forward to Hot Chicken Takeover’s arrival

Thursday, January 30, 2020

Central Ohioans may “pick your meat” and “pick your heat” when Hot Chicken Takeover opens a fourth area location this summer on Polaris Parkway in Westerville. The company announced in a news release that the Westerville restaurant would be the company’s fifth in Ohio and fourth locally, with other restaurants at Easton Gateway, 4198 Worth Ave.; the North Market, 59 Spruce St.; and Clintonville, 4203 N. High St. The other location is in Westlake, west of Cleveland. Read full article.

Downtown Tiffin earns national accreditation with Heritage Ohio for fourth year

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

For the fourth year, Downtown Tiffin has been re-recognized by Heritage Ohio as a National Main Street Community, according to a news release from Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership. The Ohio Main Street Program, administered by Heritage Ohio, works with communities across the state to revitalize historic commercial areas. Based in historic preservation, the release said it focuses on four points: organization, design, promotions and economic vitality. Each point is an integral part in the revitalization of a downtown area, the release said. Read full article.

The Economic Development Administration’s Five Investment Priorities

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Knowing your revitalization partner’s priorities adds clarity and saves time. When they are a funder with a competitive grant process, there’s all the more reason to know their priorities. For local communities interested in knowing where the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is at with their current investment priorities, this month’s speech at the 88th Winter Meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors delivered by Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Development and Chief Operating Officer Dennis Alvord pointed the way. Read full article.

$23M in Grants Available for Ohio River Cargo Operations

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

LISBON, Ohio – Businesses along the Ohio River in Columbiana County could qualify for up to $23 million in funding for projects that enhance maritime cargo operations. The Ohio Maritime Assistance Program, or MAP, was announced by the Ohio Department of Transportation, according to Penny Traina, CEO of the Columbiana County Port Authority. Traina advised the port authority’s board of directors about the new funding source during its meeting. Read full article.

Listing makes Scotty’s Cafe’s name known

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Each day, 84-year-old Ray Pauken makes a trip down East Broad Street from his apartment to Scotty’s Cafe near Bexley. Since his wife died nine years ago, the retired teacher depends on the cozy restaurant for a good meal and some socializing. “There’s no other place like it,” he said. Read full article.

Rep. Scherer to hold public meeting on rural broadband access

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

COLUMBUS—State Rep. Gary Scherer (R-Circleville) has announced that he will be hosting a public meeting, in collaboration with Connected Nation Ohio, to discuss updated broadband coverage maps for Ohio and to hear from constituents about current issues with broadband access. As a leader in rural internet accessibility advocacy, Connected Nation has been instrumental in promoting broadband expansion and technology growth in Ohio. Staying true to their mission, Connected Nation has been working with broadband service providers to accurately map broadband service areas, identify and analyze where broadband coverage is lacking, and create innovative solutions to improve connectivity statewide. Read full article.

Ohio governor chosen to be head of regional economic development commission

Monday, January 27, 2020

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine was elected to be the 2020 state co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission, giving him a national platform to improve the region. DeWine, a Republican, was chosen to work with Tim Thomas, the federal co-chair, by the governors of the 13 states that compose the Appalachian Regional Commission, or ARC. A new state co-chair is chosen every year, and the position alternates between Republican and Democratic governors. Read full article.

Reynoldsburg Community Center YMCA opens

Monday, January 27, 2020

The grand opening of the Reynoldsburg Community Center YMCA was held Jan. 25-26 with free classes, workshops, demonstrations, tours and a chance to swim. The 2-story, 75,000-square-foot facility features a fgymnasium and basketball courts, indoor play spaces and 9,000 square feet of strength and cardio equipment. The $30 million facility is a partnership among the city, the YMCA of Central Ohio and OhioHealth. The center will be open 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays; 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Read full article.

Robin Duffee named Violet Township development manager

Friday, January 24, 2020

Violet Township has named Robin Duffee to lead its business recruitment and retention efforts. Duffee, who worked as a development intern for the township from May to August 2018 before being hired on a part-time basis, has been promoted to the full-time development manager’s position. The three township trustees voted unanimously to promote Duffee. Read full article.

‘King of Fairfield’ D’Epifanio remembered for work, passions and friendship

Thursday, January 23, 2020

It’s hard to define former Fairfield mayor Ron D’Epifanio. He was a Marine, former two-term mayor, avid Ohio State fan, faithful Republican, business owner, long-time youth football coach and ordained minister so he could marry couples. D’Epifanio was also an advocate of everything related to the Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Field and passionate friend. Read full article.

Bringing ‘enthusiasm’ to economic development in Streetsboro

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Streetsboro’s newest economic development director, Patrick O’Malia, started his job this month after being hired in December. Mayor Glenn Broska said O’Malia impressed him on several levels. “The thing that stuck with me most was by far his enthusiasm and his research on the city,” said Broska. “When he came into the interview, he was very prepared as far as knowing what was going on in the city.” Read full article.

IU, U.S. Economic Development Administration launch USA Opportunity Zones website

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Indiana University and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration have launched a new online mapping tool that will help business people find Opportunity Zones that aim to steer private investment toward economically distressed areas. The Opportunity Zone initiative passed in 2017 grants capital gains tax cuts and deferrals to investors in designated Opportunity Zones, which locally include portions of Gary, Hammond, East Chicago, Valparaiso, Michigan City and LaPorte. Read full article.

Major reformations of the last decade that will shape US healthcare in 2020

Friday, January 10, 2020

Abhinav Shashank is the cofounder and CEO at Innovaccer Inc. Abhinav has led the San Francisco-based healthcare technology company since its inception in 2014. Under his supervision, Innovaccer developed its proprietary data activation platform. Amazing, breathtaking, reformative, groundbreaking. No single adjective suffices to describe how 2019 changed US healthcare. With the end of the decade, we saw innumerable events happening — from massive health information technology mergers to new major government regulations. While the year was full of exciting events happening all around, 365 days of the year, some incidents took us by surprise, and they pose great uncertainty for the yea...

Things looking up for Ohio’s smaller cities despite challenges, report says

Friday, January 10, 2020

Ohio’s small and mid-sized cities are losing population at a slower rate, seeing declines in unemployment and poverty and upticks in per-capita income. But these cities — Marion, Springfield, Zanesville and Mansfield, for example — still are dealing with many challenges that have hounded them for decades. Read full article.

Port authority names economic development director

Wednesday, January 08, 2020

WILMINGTON — The Clinton County Port Authority announced that it has hired Jennifer Ekey as Economic Development Director. The new Port Authority position marks another step in the community’s collaborative county-wide economic development program. “Jennifer is a recognized leader in economic development — regionally, and throughout the state,” said Port Authority Executive Director Dan Evers. “Adding her to the Port Authority team in support of the economic development program will significantly enhance our ability to deliver the highest quality economic development services to existing and prospective businesses.” Read full article.

Beaumont Health to acquire Ohio healthcare system

Tuesday, January 07, 2020

Southfield-based Beaumont Health announced that it has signed a definitive agreement with Akron, Ohio-based Summa Health to make Summa a subsidiary of Beaumont. The deal is expected to be finalized upon approval from regulatory agencies by the end of March, according to a press release from Beaumont Health. The two not-for-profit health systems had signed a letter of intent in July. Read full article.

Editorial: Ohio has work to do to attract growth for a stronger economy

Saturday, January 04, 2020

One of the most important metrics of a strong economy in the decade just begun will be job creation, so it is distressing to see the state’s poor standing as 2020 begins. And it is hard to understand why Ohio struggles to put up positive numbers for net new jobs as the central Ohio region enjoys continued job growth. The Dispatch encourages the administration of Gov. Mike DeWine and the Republican leaders in the Ohio General Assembly to consider what policies may need to be changed in the coming year to position Ohio for a brighter economic future. Read full article.

Fed policymakers broadly see eye to eye on 2020 outlook

Friday, January 03, 2020

SAN DIEGO/BALTIMORE (Reuters) - Federal Reserve policymakers who last year were frequently at odds over where to set U.S. borrowing costs opened 2020 telegraphing confidence in the state of the economy and signaling broad agreement that monetary policy is right where it should be. In their first remarks in the new year, heads of several regional Fed banks noted a strong job market, robust consumer spending and a rising optimism for a resolution to the trade tensions that had nicked growth in the second half of 2019. And after cutting interest rates three times last year to bring the Fed’s target t...

Medical marijuana, abortion restrictions: Biggest Ohio government and politics stories of the 2010s

Monday, December 30, 2019

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The beginning of the decade brought new leadership to Ohio, as Republican John Kasich unseated Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland. Not surprisingly, some of the top Ohio government and politics stories of the decade happened as a result of Kasich’s eight-year tenure, including a bitter fight over public employees’ collective bargaining power, an expansion of federal and state health care coverage for the poor and the privatization of the state’s economic development initiatives. Read full article.

Ohio Rust Belt Seeks New Economic Life From Electric Vehicles

Thursday, December 26, 2019

(AP) — The day Youngstown’s steel mills began shutting down 40 years ago remains fresh in the minds of those who live in the blue-collar corner of Ohio. Community leaders don’t want the recent closing of General Motors’ massive assembly plant to leave that same lingering gloom. The region is embarking on an ambitious plan to become a research and production hub for electric vehicles and carve out a new economy for itself by mixing its industrial past with emerging technology. Read full article.

State economic development wing to double spending next year

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — JobsOhio, the state's private nonprofit development corporation, will double its annual spending down the road on loans and grants, the group's director told the board in a quarterly meeting. JobsOhio normally spends around $150 million a year, but that will rise to about $300 million, J.P. Nauseef said at the board's recent quarterly meeting in Youngstown, according to Gongwer News Service. Read full article.

U.S. economy shakes free of recession fears in striking turnaround since August

Sunday, December 15, 2019

The U.S. economy is heading into 2020 at a pace of steady, sustained growth after a series of interest rate cuts and the apparent resolution of two trade-related threats mostly eliminated the risk of a recession. This marks a dramatic turnaround in momentum since August, when some forecasters predicted a 50 percent chance of a downturn starting by the end of next year. Read full article.

China to target around 6% growth in 2020, step up state spending: sources

Saturday, December 14, 2019

BEIJING (Reuters) - China plans to set a lower economic growth target of around 6% in 2020 from this year’s 6-6.5%, relying on increased state infrastructure spending to ward off a sharper slowdown, policy sources said. Chinese leaders are trying to support growth to limit job losses that could affect social stability, but are facing pressure to tackle debt risks caused by pump-priming policies. The proposed target, to be unveiled at China’s annual parliamentary session in early March 2020, was endorsed by top leaders at the annual closed-door Central Economic Work Conference this month, according to three sources with knowledge of th...

Economic Forecast 2020-2021: Moderate And Then Improving Growth

Friday, December 13, 2019

The United States economy will look about the same in 2020 as it did in 2019, but will improve in 2021. International trade presents the greatest uncertainty to the economic outlook, and if that clears up, 2020 will be even better. The demand side of the economy will be a little subpar, giving a small break to the supply side. When spending improves, the supply limitations of low labor force growth and middling productivity growth will return to play. As the demand-supply imbalance grows in 2020, inflationary signs will increase, prompting the Federal Reserve to begin slow, gradual snugging of short-ter...

USDA announces $550 million to deploy high-speed broadband internet infrastructure in rural U.S.

Thursday, December 12, 2019

STANTON, Iowa (KFOR) – More than half of a billion dollars in United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Reconnect Pilot Program funding will be available in 2020 to develop high-speed broadband internet infrastructure in rural parts of the United States. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced on Thursday that a second round of $550 million has been made available after being appropriated by Congress. Read full article.

Explainer: What the U.S. Federal Reserve will be watching in 2020

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to keep interest rates unchanged when it wraps up its final policy meeting of the year. The U.S. central bank is currently in a holding pattern after cutting interest rates three times this year to boost the economy in the face of threats posed by slowing global growth and the U.S.-China trade war. But Fed officials have indicated they still see more chance of the economy softening than strengthening. Here’s what the Fed will be keeping an eye on in 2020: Read full article.

Talent is America’s most precious resource—it’s time economic development organizations focus more on developing it

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

In his recent book, The Gift of Global Talent, Harvard economist William R. Kerr argues that talent is the world’s most precious resource. Across America’s network of regional economies, this is undoubtedly true. The collective knowledge and capabilities of the U.S. workforce is worth an estimated $240 trillion—four times more valuable than the country’s physical capital stock and ten times more valuable than all the urban land in the United States. Read full article.

Dublin Tech Talent Pipeline Looks to Alternative Paths

Friday, December 06, 2019

The rush to fill growing technology roles in Central Ohio, and around the country, is at an all-time high. In early 2019, Central Ohio hit its lowest unemployment rate in 18 years, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Between that, and the rise of software development roles (at a 63% increase from 2010), companies are spread thin for talent. This means finding talent through traditional routes is no longer a sustainable strategy. Read full article.

More Than 31 Million People in the United States (15.6% of the Adult Population Ages 18-64) Are Engaged in Early Stage Entrepreneurial Activity, According to the 2018/2019 United States GEM Report Produced by Babson College

Friday, December 06, 2019

WELLESLEY, Mass. -- The United States exhibits among the highest rates of early stage entrepreneurial activity in the developed world (15.6%). In addition, a great majority of entrepreneurs in the United States were motivated by opportunity in 2018. These are among the findings of the 2018/2019 U.S. Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Report, produced by Babson College. "Entrepreneurship can fill employment gaps in the economy and enable people to pursue the career they desire," said GEM U.S. Team Leader and Babson College Professor Julian Lange. "It is therefore imperative to equip people with the ability to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities and start businesses when they need or choose to do so." Read full article.

One company’s approach to workforce development: Charting unknown territory and emphasizing the fundamentals

Friday, December 06, 2019

The skills that employers require among their employees are changing as technology reshapes the nature of work. In this context, employers must invest in strategies to identify what these new skills are, a difficult task given the fast pace of change and the uncertainty about precisely which skills will be valuable in the near- to long-term. Suzanne van de Raadt is a vice president in global communications at Arconic, an advanced materials manufacturing company headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that employs about 43,000 people. This post discusses van de Raadt’s perspective on the central challenge with respect to workforce development: uncertainty abou...

Brain Gain: Changing the Way We See Ourselves

Tuesday, October 01, 2019

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Business language changes, methods evolve and historical perceptions can either paralyze or propel people. Over the years, many studies, groups and leaders have addressed the urgency of economic development and creating methods to keep our children from leaving the region. But determining outcomes, effecting best practices and leveraging our combined efforts rarely occurred. Read full article.

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