Latest News

Where to place your economic bets for 2023

Tuesday, November 22, 2022

Ken Chenault, Chairman and Managing Director, General Catalyst and Penny Pritzker, Founder and Chairman, PSP Partners; Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce share their insights on the economic and business outlook for 2023, and share where they’re placing bets now. Read here for the full article.

International Companies Are Manufacturing Products in Springfield, Ohio

Friday, November 04, 2022

This Manufacturing Month we recognize the U.S. and international manufacturing companies making products in Clark County, Ohio. With over 154 manufacturers, 5,276 people are employed in our manufacturing sector. “If you’re a site selector or working for a manufacturing company, Springfield, Ohio is the community you need to visit,” said Horton Hobbs IV, Vice President, Economic Development for the Greater Springfield Partnership. “From food products to auto parts and custom metalworks, Springfield has attracted some of the world’s top manufacturing companies. They are drawn to our shovel-ready sites, customer service, and the ability to reach the majority of the U.S...

Economic Impact and Importance of Social and Policy Issues

Sunday, October 30, 2022

The United States was founded on the idea that its elected officials are the voice of the people; however, dissatisfied with the polarized political divisiveness and the near gridlock in Congress, the people are looking towards other forms of representation — their employers. It has become increasingly common for employees to urge, if not demand, their employers stand up for them, take action, and help create change on their behalf. Many companies — motivated by their current workforce’s pleas and their desire to attract the best and brightest workforce — have accordingly prioritized aligning their social activism and corporate responsibilit...

ESG: The New Metrics in Construction and Real Estate

Sunday, October 30, 2022

With engineering and construction making up more than 11 percent of global domestic product, there is a growing focus on how the building industry conducts business. What started as a movement among institutional investors and their financial partners has expanded across almost all sectors, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations now impact many real estate decisions and capital project planning. Consumer behavior is partly responsible for the change. So is the fact that investors and lenders increasingly view a company’s ESG policies as indicative of how that company is positioning itself for success in the marketplace. Read here for th...

Front Line: Taking an Expanded View of Climate Change

Sunday, October 30, 2022

Summer 2022 — a season marked by historic heat waves, widespread drought, and torrential rains — ranks among the hottest on record, according to data from NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Read here for the full article.

Manufacturing’s Last “KISS”

Sunday, October 30, 2022

If you’ve been in the business world for a while, especially in manufacturing or engineering, you’ve probably encountered the concept of “KISS” solutions. As a young employee who just joined the production floor for Lockheed Martin back in the early 1980s, I had no idea what a program manager was asking for, when he told me, “I just want the KISS solution” for a production problem. Read here for the full article.

“Friend-Shoring” To “Next-Dooring”

Sunday, October 30, 2022

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and the Deputy Prime Minister of Canada and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland convened on June 20, 2022, where the pair championed a new era of “friend-shoring” as a way to transform global supply chains in the post-pandemic world. In contrast to the predominant current purchasing strategy that attempts to meet quality standards at the lowest cost possible, “friend-shoring” (aka “ally-shoring”), according to Secretary Yellen, “is the idea that countries that espouse a common set of values about international trade [and] conduct in the global economy should trade and get the benefits of trade s...

Why Utilities Are Such Great Economic Development Partners

Wednesday, October 26, 2022

Anyone whose eye is on international news today can easily see how all aspects of a community are impacted when energy is scarce, unreliable, or unaffordable. Yet even under optimal conditions and ideal circumstances, successful economic development organizations fully understand why utility companies are invaluable working partners. Utility companies are crucial to everyone’s success because they have a closer everyday relationship, and a greater impact, on quality of life and prosperity than any other industry. Since their success depends on selling more energy, they also have plenty of incentive to retain and attract new manufacturers as well as other large-scale powe...

5 Reasons Your City Should Try Pop-Ups to “Try Before You Buy”

Saturday, October 22, 2022

1. ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT IMPACT Publics space improvement projects come with a lot of questions. How will the space be used by the community? Will it disrupt other ongoing uses of the space? How sustainable will its upkeep be? Surveys, studies, and research will answer some questions but nothing is better than just testing it out. Read the full article here.

Best of Springfield winners and placers

Friday, October 21, 2022

The community submitted more than 100,000 votes in 50 categories for the 2022 Best of Springfield, brought to you by the Greater Springfield Partnership and the Springfield News-Sun. Here are the winners and second- and third-place finishers. Read the full article here.

Rax’s return to Clark County a step in rebirth of roast beef chain

Friday, October 21, 2022

For Rax owner Richard Donohue, the addition of the restaurant to the New Carlisle area is a return to the company’s roots and a continuation of the roast beef sandwich chain’s revitalization. Read here for the full article.

The Best of Springfield make their 2022 debut

Thursday, October 20, 2022

The annual Best of Springfield awards are meant to “shine a spotlight on local businesses” and the products and services that they offer to the community, says Chris Schutte, vice president of destination marketing and communications for The Greater Springfield Partnership. “It’s the celebration of everything local, everything great in Springfield,” Schutte says. The organization launched the contest in 2015. Read here for the full article.

Downtown housing directly tied to Downtown growth

Saturday, October 15, 2022

In 1964, singer Petula Clark sang about Downtown, “… We can forget all our troubles, forget all our cares. So go downtown, things'll be great when you're downtown, don't wait a minute for downtown, everything's waiting for you downtown ...” Springfield realtor Dori Gaier of Coldwell Banker Heritage Realty would agree. With the Downtown Springfield housing market booming, Downtown really is the place to be. Read here for the full article.

Forget about goal setting. Try these 5 strategies instead

Friday, October 14, 2022

Goal setting is one of those things that seems like it would be fundamental to success. If you’ve read any books or articles about getting ahead in your career or life, you’ve probably come across tips on setting goals (like SMART goal setting) so that you can successfully meet them. But setting goals may not be as relevant anymore, and there may be better alternatives to managing your career–and your life. Read here for the full article.

The 4 Biggest Difficulties Every Entrepreneur Faces

Friday, October 14, 2022

1. Cash may run out, but it's not the end of the world Cash is one of the most challenging elements of running a business. You have to ensure enough cash is coming in to keep everything and everyone up and running. Companies often go through periods of low cash flow, during which they may have to delay or cancel projects, hire less staff or even shut down entirely. Read here for the full article.

A Strong Labor Market Is Even More Crucial For People Of Color

Wednesday, October 12, 2022

The labor market recovered remarkably quickly from the recession in early 2020. This rapid recovery has had greater importance for Black, Latino and many Asian workers than for white workers as they rely more on income from work—wages, salaries and self-employment income—as opposed to income from capitol like dividends and interest. Read here for the full article.

New Glassdoor Filters Enable Searches On Demographic Group Ratings And Interests Like Work Life Balance

Wednesday, October 12, 2022

Job seekers and employees alike expect so much more from their workplaces. Increasingly, culture, flexibility and values trump retirement plans, health benefits and expense accounts in a competitive job marketplace. Job seekers are no longer simply looking for a job. They’re looking for a professional home that feels welcoming and often finding that right fit requires more sophistication, individualized search options. Read here for the full article.

Metal Fabrication Strong With Demand, Expansion

Tuesday, October 11, 2022

“It’s an underappreciated industry.” That’s the basic observation of Dennis Donovan, principal with Wadley Donovan Gutshaw Consulting, of Bridgewater, N.J., when he was asked about the importance of, the health of and the potential of the metal fabrication industry. Read here for the article.

Local healthcare options are important to meeting local residents' health needs.

Saturday, October 08, 2022

For Mercy Health – Springfield, local healthcare means faster, better care for local patients. But it also means recruiting new talent from elsewhere who become active members of the community. “We are of the community, we are in the community, and our providers are the same,” says hospital President Adam Groshans. Read here for the full article.

JobsOhio and the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association Celebrate Manufacturing Day

Friday, October 07, 2022

COLUMBUS, OHIO October 7, 2022 – JobsOhio, the state's private nonprofit economic development corporation designed to drive job creation and new capital investment in Ohio, is proud to join The Ohio Manufacturers' Association (OMA) in commemorating the state's significant growth in the manufacturing sector after more than a decade of shared effort. Read here for the full article.

Forbes Selects Ohio To Host Flagship Under 30 Summit Through 2025

Wednesday, October 05, 2022

CLEVELAND, October 5, 2022 – Forbes today announced that it will hold its flagship, annual Under 30 Summit in Ohio through 2025, a move that recognizes the state’s impressive community of entrepreneurs and innovators. The Summit, presented by JobsOhio, will take place in three different Ohio cities over the next three years – starting in Cleveland in 2023, followed by Cincinnati and Columbus. The Summit will bring together young, diverse leaders across industries to collaborate, network, learn and exchange ideas. Read here for the full article.

ICYMI: A round-up of links to videos of webinars you might have missed

Friday, September 30, 2022

We've had a super busy start to our fall webinar line-up! More than 800 people signed up for our recent webinar offerings, on subjects from rural economic development to supporting small businesses and so much more. If you missed any of these recent webinars, you are in luck! We recorded all of them and invite you to review those videos at your convenience. Read here for the full article.

Ohio Has Grown into a Globally Recognized R&D Hub

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

U.S. INSIGHTS The Federal Reserve raised the federal funds rate by another 75 basis points and projected a more aggressive path ahead as it adjusts policy to combat high inflation. FOMC officials now estimate the unemployment rate to rise to 4.4% in 2023 from its current level of 3.7%. Additionally, they estimate GDP growth to slow to 0.2% for 2022, a decrease from the 1.7% estimate provided in June. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 0.1% in August and 8.3% over the past year. Core CPI rose 0.6% during the month to a 6.3% annual rate, the highest level since April...

Why You Need to Build Sustainability Into Your Business Strategy

Friday, September 23, 2022

Doing the right thing is good for business The consciousness of sustainable practices and products has risen dramatically in the last few decades. Whether it be shifting generational expectations, the climate crisis, or other motivating factors, consumers value brands that prioritize sustainability. A quick look at the numbers: When given a choice, 32% of millennials will choose a sustainable option over a non-sustainable one, and 47% of companies said sustainability had an impact on their recruiting and retention. And investors understand it, too: 90% of investors said they pay attention to how sustainable a business is. Read the full article here.

3 strategies to disrupt yourself for greater success in changing times

Thursday, September 22, 2022

I knew something serious was up when South by Southwest (SXSW) was canceled in March 2020. I use design tools and process to teach people of all ages to design their lives. But for one beautiful pre-COVID-19 year, I traveled across the United States to help older people, 65 to 90+ years old, design their lives. This research was possible through a grant from The SCAN Foundation, and you can read the full report here. Read here for the full article.

3 strategies to disrupt yourself for greater success in changing times

Thursday, September 22, 2022

Excitement is Growing for the Digital Futures Building’s Official Opening

Thursday, September 22, 2022

When the Digital Futures building officially opens to the public on September 23, the greater Cincinnati region will be one step closer to creating a world-class innovation district in Uptown Cincinnati. The highly anticipated building provides a transdisciplinary space to bring together University of Cincinnati (UC) experts for collaboration that will impact the community, region and global society. Read here for the full article.

National Advanced Air Mobility Industry Forum to land in Springfield

Monday, September 19, 2022

Ohio, known as the birthplace of aviation, continues to be at the forefront of aviation and air mobility advancement and development, with Springfield being a major player. Next week, Springfield will host the National Advanced Air Mobility Industry Forum at the Hollenbeck Bayley Creative Arts and Conference Center (HBC). Read full article.

Three Reasons Building A Caregiver-Friendly Culture Is Good For Business

Monday, September 19, 2022

By helping build resilient workforces and retain quality talent through personnel disruptions, caregiver-friendly workplaces are more competitive and successful. Employees are looking for employers that understand the need for work-life balance and the need for flexibility to address family issues. Employers that embrace caregiving-friendly strategies and solutions will be able to recruit and retain top-quality talent. Read here for the full article.

4 Tactics To Boost Your Team’s Collaboration In A Remote World

Sunday, September 18, 2022

A few years ago, running into colleagues on their way to the break room was a mundane workplace happenstance. Now, plenty of employees—and their supervisors—long for those kinds of casual meetings. Telecommuting from home is a lot more isolating than working in the office. And when people aren’t regularly interacting, collaboration decreases. Read here for the full article.

Mercy Health - Springfield expands neuroscience services

Friday, September 16, 2022

New, state-of-the-art technology at Mercy Health – including some that has been introduced to the Springfield hospital for the first time this summer – is allowing patients to be cared for quicker, better and closer to home. Mercy Health – Springfield’s expanded neuroscience services make patient care more convenient and more efficient. What’s more, it saves lives. Read full article.

Senior complex in Clark County enters second construction phase

Thursday, September 15, 2022

Ground will be broken for the second phase of the Community Gardens affordable senior apartment community in Springfield in a ceremony slated for Aug. 30. The second phase of the project will consist of 60 apartments located on 7.6 acres at 130 and 330 S. Burnett Road. The units will have one bedroom and will be available to residents who earn up to 60% of the area median income. The homes will also be fully accessible and have interconnected walking paths throughout the development, according to a Neighborhood Housing Partnership of Greater Springfield press release. Read full article.

Zoptiks is Pioneering Interactive Zoo Technology

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

Going to the zoo is a common summer activity and field trip destination for kids. But as the pandemic continues, in-person activities for students have become more difficult than ever to schedule and organize. So how can parents and teachers provide kids with an educational and immersive experience in a world that’s becoming increasingly virtual? To address this growing need, Hari Kunduru founded Zoptiks in Columbus to develop virtual, interactive, experiences for zoos. Read full article.

Midwest Institutions Launch Semiconductor Network

Tuesday, September 13, 2022

The U.S. labor market remained strong in July, as nonfarm payrolls increased by 528,000 during the month, marking the 19th consecutive month of expansion. The unemployment rate fell to 3.5%, down from 3.6% and is the lowest level since February 2020. Total job openings fell 5.4% to 10.7M in June. Hires also slowed during the month, falling 2% to 6.37M, while quits remained little changed at 4.2M. Weekly jobless claims rose to 260,000 for the week ended July 30, and continuing claims rose 48,000 from the prior week to 1.42M. Read full article.

Hanna Greer-Brown, Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio

Monday, September 12, 2022

When Ohioans bring their recyclables to the curb or to a community drop-off location, they might not give much thought as to where materials like soda and water bottles go from there. When we recycle, we aren’t only protecting the environment by diverting trash from the landfill; we are also supporting jobs, consumers and Ohio’s economy. Read full article.

Making Way for People: The Future Is Now

Friday, September 09, 2022

When the MLK Interchange opened in 2017, the vision for Uptown Cincinnati as a district that will incubate talent and attract businesses officially began. Fast forward five years and the four quadrants at MLK and Reading Road in The Cincinnati Innovation District® (CID), a mixed-use development supporting Uptown’s medical, research and innovation industries, is quickly coming to life as construction finishes on the highly anticipated University of Cincinnati Digital Futures building, the centerpiece of the Digital Futures Complex. Over the next decade, there are plans for an additional two million square feet of mixed-use development with 7,500+ people working, visiting...

JobsOhio Releases Annual Report, 2021 Marked As Landmark Year

Thursday, September 08, 2022

JobsOhio, the state’s private nonprofit economic development corporation, released its 2021 Annual Report and 2022 Strategic Plan, which showed 2021 to be a landmark year. In 2021, more than 29,000 new jobs were committed, and companies planned more than $6.9 billion in capital investment in Ohio. While the Intel megaproject is not included as part of last year’s record performance, JobsOhio was able to break records for commitments of new jobs, new jobs payroll, retained jobs, and new projects. Read full article.

5 Reasons Companies Are Investing In Springfield, Ohio

Wednesday, September 07, 2022

“Companies are investing in Springfield, Ohio,” said Horton Hobbs IV, Economic Development Director for the Greater Springfield Partnership (Partnership). “We have seen an incredible amount of interest from national and international companies looking to expand operations, in part, because our location offers access to the majority of the U.S. population within a day’s drive. Plus, we work hard to offer the best customer service and ensure they have a good experience.” Those efforts have paid off with major investments being made by companies like Gabes. They chose Clark County for their largest distribution center, announcing a $90 million investment in 2021. Here’...

Business viewpoint: Get your business noticed in a sea of workforce ads

Wednesday, September 07, 2022

An estimated 47.4 million Americans left their jobs in 2021. While unemployment today is hitting record lows, there are still many industries that are struggling to find employees, including food service, hospitality, manufacturing, education and health services. If your organization has been straining to fill open positions, you may be asking yourself “where are all the applicants?” The answer is that HR departments and recruiting firms need to be creative in how they find employees. Read full article.

Using Community Planning & Infrastructure Investment to Become More Competitive

Tuesday, September 06, 2022

Meeting your community's existing needs while laying the groundwork for its anticipated need is more critical than ever. Meanwhile, the concept of infrastructure is evolving. In addition to being functional, capital improvements now need to be aesthetically pleasing and sustainable. They must also be planned, executed, and publicized to make the community feel more connected. Read full article.

Our GIS site selection tools are different. Here's how.

Monday, September 05, 2022

In the more than 23 years I’ve been in this industry, I’ve seen companies like ours come and go, but I am proud that GIS Planning will celebrate 25 years next year! This is an amazing accomplishment that speaks to both the quality of our software technology and the consistent cutting-edge innovation. It also speaks to the organizational cohesion and loyalty of our team, almost all of whom have worked for this company for more than 10 years. We truly are a family. GISPlanning-cat-lion-notitleEvery once in a while, we encounter ED professionals confused by other vendors or the familiar use o...

3 Tips on How to Empower Your Franchisees to Acquire Local Customers

Friday, September 02, 2022

People buy franchises for two reasons. First, they hope to be backed by experts in running a successful business. Second, they want to attach themselves to a strong brand everyone has heard of. The industry standard for franchisors is to provide training, technology and resources to support their franchisees. They don't let them go out on their own. When a multi-unit owner opens another car-repair service, he does so because he's keen on cars, not on SEO. Franchisees reasonably assume the head office will take care of that. Are they right? No — at least in most cases. Here's why. Read ful...

Can ~100% More Ventures In Majority Black Areas Lead To Faster Economic Development?

Thursday, September 01, 2022

The good news: More entrepreneurs are starting ventures in majority black areas, according to a study by the Alliance for Entrepreneurial Equity. The study found a marked surge in entrepreneurial activity in areas with a majority of black residents. New business applications in majority black areas increased by 103% from 2019 to 2021 compared to 54% nationally, and were about 3.5 times higher in 2005. The study gives a number of reasons for this trend, including: More government financing Greater necessity, even with pandemic relief Read full article.

‘Meeting Doomsday’ And ‘Calendar Bankruptcy’: How Leaders Are Battling Meeting Overload

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

It was the return of business travel that tipped Stephanie Dismore’s calendar over the edge. Earlier this year, as the HP senior executive juggled running to airport gates with a schedule still filled with pandemic-era Zoom calls, Dismore sat down with her assistant and did an audit of her meetings. Some were delegated. Meetings set up simply to share information were canceled, with a request sent for a slide deck. The rest were given a hard look and had to pass a test to stay on her calendar. Read full article.

“Golden Age” of Spec Development

Tuesday, August 30, 2022

From coast to coast, demand for new warehouse and distribution space is hitting record-breaking levels. According to a recent report from Cushman & Wakefield,1 the U.S. industrial construction pipeline topped 600 million square feet for the first time ever in Q1 2022, with nearly 95 percent of that tally classified as warehouse/distribution product. Net absorption hit a staggering 108 million square feet in Q1, with 10 different markets posting more than five million square feet of new leasing activity from January to March. Read full article.

U.S. Seeks to Manufacture Critical Rare Earth Materials

Monday, August 29, 2022

The United States is facing a critical shortage of product made from rare earth materials that are essential in manufacturing important components for more than 200 products, including high-tech consumer products such as cellular telephones, computer hard drives, electric and hybrid vehicles, flat-screen monitors and televisions, and significant defense applications such as electronic displays, guidance systems, lasers, and radar and sonar systems. According to the Emerging Information and Technology Conference (EITC), the largest uses of rare earth materials are in the manufacturing of permanent magnets used in wind turbines, the drive trains of hybrid and electric vehicles, and energy-efficient applications. Thes...

The New Industrial Ecosystem

Friday, August 26, 2022

Far beyond ports, hubs, and transportation networks, the new industrial ecosystem requires a cross-section of executive decision-makers to take a proactive data-driven stance on location strategies and logistics planning. Shifts across complex, geopolitical and socio-economic systems are happening too quickly, and the costs are too high not to rely on a data-driven approach to meeting the common industrial sector challenges that include the following: Highly competitive site selection due to low inventory of available space and soaring real estate costs Sharp increases in costs of supplies, inventory stocking, transportation, and energy Read full article.

Equality Springfield creates comfortable spaces for LGBTQ+ community

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

Promoting broader awareness of LGBTQ+ issues and participating visibly in the cultural life of the local community, Equality Springfield strives to allow people to feel comfortable in their own skin. For Shantel Pickett, who recently moved to Springfield, the non-profit helped her to branch out and meet new people and to become involved with her new community. Read full article.

New lab at Clark State College to support students with disabilities

Tuesday, August 16, 2022

The Abilities Connection (TAC) and Quest Inc., a supporting corporation with Developmental Disabilities of Clark County, have collaborated to offer a hands-on, performance-based vocational assessment for students with disabilities and other barriers in the community. The PAES Lab will launch with its first cohort of students on July 25 and be located at Clark State College’s main campus in Springfield, a continued expansion of Clark State’s partnership with TAC. Read full article.

New and coming soon: a peek at some of the new and soon-to-be restaurants in Springfield

Monday, August 15, 2022

Springfield has no shortage of great restaurants already. From Stella Bleu Bistro to Speakeasy Ramen, and Bubby's Chicken & Waffles to La Torte Dolci - Springfield can easily be a foodie's paradise to explore. And now, with some new options - both local and chain - popping up, diners will have even more options to choose from. Read full article.

Clark State president appointed chair of higher learning commission

Friday, August 12, 2022

Clark State College President Jo Alice Blondin has been appointed as Chair of the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Board of Trustees. Her tenure will be effective Sept. 1 to Aug. 31, 2024, according to the college. She has served the HLC since 2005 as a peer reviewer, contributor to the Assessment Academy Design Team, an institutional actions council member, a board trustee, chair of the committee on trustees, and most recently as vice chair of the board of trustees. Read full article.

Construction to bring 60 additional units of senior housing to start in August

Thursday, August 11, 2022

More affordable senior housing is slated for Springfield as the second phase of a project that aims to build a total of 110 of those units, representing nearly $25 million in investment, will began in August. The second phase of the Community Gardens project aims to build 60 one-bedroom apartments for seniors 55-years-old or older, and will add to existing affordable housing stock in the city. The first phase of the project built 50 two-bedroom units and was completed in 2018, creating a pocket neighborhood at the former Community Hospital site on Burnett Road and East High Street. Read full article.

How Ohio State is Training the Next Generation of 3D Printing Experts

Wednesday, August 10, 2022

Not too long ago, the list of people with access to a 3D printer was a short one. But over the last decade, 3D printing (or additive manufacturing) has gone from a fun novelty to an important new frontier in the world of manufacturing. Across Ohio, companies are using 3D printers for everything from food and prosthetics to military operations and custom industrial work. With all of those possibilities, the next generation of Ohio talent and entrepreneurs need a way to learn the ins and outs of 3D printing before they ever leave school, and The Ohio State University ha...

Black Tech Week Coming to Ohio

Tuesday, August 09, 2022

JobsOhio’s 2021 Annual Report highlights the record year for the organization and its network partners. In total, 414 total projects were recorded in 2021, resulting in more than 29,000 new jobs, $1.6B in new payroll and $6.9B of new capital investment. The Ohio Tax Credit Authority (TCA) approved assistance for two economic development projects in June. The projects are set to create 375 new jobs, resulting in more than $22.9M in new payroll and more than $213M in investment. Ohio recorded 14,596 new business filings in May. A total of 80,480 new businesses have been created in 2022 so far...

Attracting and Retaining Workers in Today's Challenging Market

Monday, August 08, 2022

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment has fallen to pre-pandemic levels, but that doesn’t mean the workforce is simply returning to normal. In March of 2022, a record 4.5 million Americans quit their jobs, leaving 1.9 job openings for every unemployed worker. According to the Institute of Supply Management, filling positions in the manufacturing industry is particularly challenging. According to a recent survey by CNBC, fifty-two percent of all small business owners report trouble finding workers. It’s safe to say that for every employee who resigns, others are contemplating quitting. Read full article.

Shaping Our Digital Public Spaces —And Why Democracy Depends On It

Friday, August 05, 2022

The impact of Big Tech on democracy has never been more apparent and regulators are starting to take heed. In the last few months, the European Union passed two of the most significant pieces of legislation aiming to regulate Big Tech companies and their impact on polarization. On the heels of these policy advances, Ashoka social entrepreneur Anna-Lena von Hodenberg — founder of HateAid — had a precedent-setting win of her own: a German court ruled that Facebook (now known as Meta) is accountable for removing “identical and core similar” illegal hate speech from their platform once detected. To fin...

A Look at Integrated Project Delivery From the Inside Out

Thursday, August 04, 2022

Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) is a project delivery strategy that focuses on transparency and collaboration, forming a cohesive team, and implementing methods to enhance efficiency and generate desired project outcomes. This isn’t just about a new contract relationship between design and construct — the owner is a key stakeholder. The culture of collaboration in IPD makes the most of all the project participants’ experience and insights and optimizes effective communication to mitigate risk and reduce changes late in the game. This approach saves time and money, reduces waste, and incentivizes participation through shared goals that unite the team. Read full article.

Rail Gains Advantage Amidst Supply Chain Snarls

Wednesday, August 03, 2022

For companies around the world, supply chain snags have been top-of-mind for much of the past year. Delays are common, and U.S. domestic shipping rates for moving goods are up approximately 23 percent over 2020 levels, according to Cass Information Systems, Inc. High demand continues to outpace logistics capacity, and the chronic U.S. truck driver shortage only exacerbates delays. Amidst these trends, rail has become an important option for shipping goods across the United States — especially as trucking costs rise, too. Many companies rushed to stock inventories in 2020, and they now need help distributing goods to consumers. Remarkably, internationa...

Grow Your Business in the Center of One of the Largest Laborsheds, Without the Traffic

Tuesday, August 02, 2022

Your business needs workforce - Clark County, Ohio has it. Springfield and Clark County is in the center of one of the largest laborsheds in the United States. Located between Dayton and Columbus, Springfield’s employers can draw from two major metropolitan areas, surrounding rural communities and Springfield itself. “We recognize that workforce availability is one of the most pressing challenges businesses are facing. Springfield has the large laborshed companies need, and we have a plan to expand it. The Greater Springfield Partnership has an entire team dedicated to recruiting employees, reaching high school students and upskilling current residents. We are 100...

Trends in Data Center Site Selection

Tuesday, August 02, 2022

What makes a good location for a data center? There are quite a few factors, and some of the most important are the availability of space, land, and power. However, emerging technologies that will require edge computing — such as 5G, virtual reality and metaverse applications, AI, and self-driving cars — and sustainability and access to green energy are increasingly important considerations for data center site selection. Low Vacancy Rates Market demand for data is constantly rising and must be matched by a dramatic rise in data center construction. Available data center space in major cities is severely limited. For example, popula...

Area Development’s 17th Annual Shovel Awards Recognize State and Local Economic Development Efforts — First Two Platinum Shovels Awarded

Monday, August 01, 2022

The national news headlines in 2021 shifted dramatically, from wall-to-wall pandemic coverage to stories of extraordinary economic growth and recovery. After a dramatic downturn in 2020, the economy came roaring back with unexpected gusto — and that enthusiasm is reflected in the economic development activity that was bringing smiles and applause across the country last year. The 2022 Shovel Awards recognize the best of all that good economic development news from the past year. These state honors are based on information provided by economic development officials, and though it’s always possible for plans to be revised or delayed by unforeseen circumstances...

Breaking the Cyber Color Barrier

Friday, July 29, 2022

The pronounced shortage of cybersecurity workers has been exhaustively chronicled, as has the low participation rate of Black people and other minorities among technology industry professionals. According to the 2021 Cybersecurity Workforce Study issued in October by the non-profit International Information System Security Certification Consortium — (ISC)2 — unfilled cybersecurity openings in the United States totaled 2.72 million in the year’s fourth quarter. A report issued in April by Zippia found that Black workers, who account for 13% of the U.S. workforce, hold but 8% of cybersecurity jobs, a share that’s actually declining. Read full article.

Industry Consensus On Sustainability Looks Fragile

Thursday, July 28, 2022

Pressed by a sense of urgency among scientists and the wider public, and by governments and investors who must fulfil promises made at COP (Conference of the Parties) summits, major businesses are facing ever more stringent sustainability reporting requirements. Big energy users, such as data centers, are in the firing line. Many of the reporting requirements, and proposed methods of reducing carbon emissions, are proving to be complicated and may appear contradictory and counterproductive. Many managers will be bewildered and frustrated. Read full article.

How Smart Is Your City?

Wednesday, July 27, 2022

How many Urban Planning 101 courses have begun with the instructor asking the class, “What is a Smart City?” It’s a question that’s sure to set the stage for a semester’s worth of theories, lectures, papers and exams aimed at introducing the students to the many notions and practices they will encounter and perhaps improve on in their budding careers in the field. It’s not a new notion. City planners and engineers have long been incorporating high-tech traffic sensors, data-driven energy management, use of the Internet of Things for infrastructure and other planning purposes and improved connectivity for citizens and cit...

Trading Goals For Pathways

Tuesday, July 26, 2022

"Make oil history.” That’s the slogan of Northvolt, the fast-charging Swedish battery manufacturer now employing more than 3,000 people as it aims to produce as 150 gigawatt-hours of battery cells by 2030, and use clean energy to power its operations. Read full article.

Smarter Cities

Monday, July 25, 2022

Over the past century, countries around the world have experienced rapid urbanization around their edges and deindustrialization in their cores. Cities worldwide will have to continue adjusting to climate change, large-scale migration, shifts in family structure, rapid technological changes, public health crises, and other powerful social and political forces. As they do so, they will have to address acute social needs, identify the underlying trends, and reassess patterns and systemic features of the built environment. Adjustments also bring new economic opportunities made possible by advanced technological changes, and social challenges as cities become ethnically diverse, persistently unequal, with aging infrastructure...

Bradley Minerd is dedicated to equality, community, and service

Friday, July 22, 2022

A committed defender of equality, Bradley Minerd, is passionate about the Springfield community. A corrections officer with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Minerd is dedicated to being a public servant both at his job and as the current president of Equality Springfield, a nonprofit formed in 2010 by a group of citizens who envisioned a greater Springfield in which LGBTQ+ people are welcomed and appreciated. Read full article.

Springfield to streamline utility billing, payments

Thursday, July 21, 2022

The city of Springfield plans to upgrade its utility billing and payment systems as city officials say the goal is to streamline those processes and improve payment options. The city announced this week that it has partnered with software companies SmartBill and Invoice Cloud in a bid to create a more efficient system of billing and payment for customers. City officials stated in a recent news release that SmartBill will provide bill printing and mail delivery services while Invoice Cloud will serve utility customers with online payment options. Read full article.

Springfield OKs zoning request for development that could bring up to 1,250 new homes

Wednesday, July 20, 2022

The city of Springfield has agreed to rezone a little over 378 acres of land along East National Road to a Planned Development District as that area could see up to 1,250 new homes built over a period of 10 years. The decision to rezone that land, which includes the former Melody Drive-in Theatre and the former Next Edge development site, will allow for a planned development called Melody Place that will include a mixture of single-family, multi-family and patio homes as well as retail property. Read full article.

Springfield, Ohio Shines At Mid-America EDC Conference

Wednesday, July 20, 2022

The Greater Springfield Partnership and the City of Springfield hosted the Mid-America EDC Conference July 13 - 15th, showcasing the city’s significant growth and highlighting best practices other Mid-America communities can incorporate into their strategic planning. “We were privileged to host the Mid-America EDC, fellow members, insightful speakers and sponsors. Mid-America EDC is composed of leaders focused on making an impact for their communities,” said Horton Hobbs IV, Vice President of Economic Development for Greater Springfield Partnership. “We have had that same focus in Springfield and the results have been phenomenal. Being able to showcase the growth of our community, ou...

Innovation Center's 2021 Economic Impact Report highlights continued success

Tuesday, July 19, 2022

Ohio University’s Innovation Center supported 249 jobs that generated an estimated $18 million in employee compensation and $49.7 million in economic output in Athens County in 2021, according to a new economic impact report. Over the last seven years, the business incubator’s job creation numbers have increased 78 percent, and employee compensation generated from its client companies is up 211 percent. Read full article.

Corporate Investments Continue to Pour into Ohio

Monday, July 18, 2022

This report is a summary of third-party economic research and perspectives to foster communication with business and economic development stakeholders. Key Economic Insights U.S.: 390,000 jobs were added in May; U.S. unemployment rate remained at 3.6%. Ohio: Ford announced plans to invest $1.5B and create 1,800 new jobs in Avon Lake to assemble an all-new electric commercial vehicle for Ford Pro customers (debuting mid-decade), along with an additional 90 jobs and $100M investment between Lima Engine and Sharonville Transmission plants. Read full article.

How to Effectively Hire During the New Normal

Friday, July 15, 2022

The way businesses in the industrial sector approach hiring new employees has changed. Companies can no longer rely on posting a job ad and sitting back to wait for resumes to flood in. With unemployment rates at an all-time low after the advent of the Great Resignation, the best candidates are already employed. So how do you locate the best talent, and what are the best-recruiting tools? Internal recruitment, agency software, HR recruitment software, and recruitment service providers are just a few of the options available to you. Hiring Team-Focused Players in the New Normal How has the COVID-19 pandemic changed th...

Taking Action Now for An Increasingly Automated Future

Thursday, July 14, 2022

Recently, Elon Musk announced plans for the Tesla Bot, a humanoid robot that stands 5 feet, 8 inches tall. Musk said the robot “probably won’t work.” I hope he is wrong. Many people have an adverse reaction to discussions of automation and artificial intelligence. While I understand those fears, I believe we need to embrace automation. In fact, let’s put our foot on the gas — or set the autonomous electric vehicle at max speed. But as we accelerate toward automation, we must reposition our workforce for a successful journey. Read full article.

3 Ways To Solve Common Innovation Inefficiencies

Wednesday, July 13, 2022

It’s one thing to come up with clever business ideas. It’s another thing to get them smoothly from planning to execution. The road to innovation is paved with plenty of detours, potholes, and one-way streets. While some of them are unavoidable and unexpected—like a global pandemic—others can be anticipated. And that means they can be thwarted with a bit of strategic forethought. Read full article.

How Companies Are Bridging The Gap Between Profitability & Purpose

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

Today, consumers, investors, and even employees are expecting more out of the companies they support. It doesn’t take much browsing on social media to read about brands that have earned widespread ire for falling short. About half of all consumers admit to publicly skewering businesses. Even if those brands are profitable, they face a potentially devastating loss of reputation that could affect their bottom lines. In other words, it’s a very new type of environment. A full 62% of chief experience officers told Deloitte they were just as focused on positively giving back as on increasing profits. Accordingly, some business leader...

5 Tips for Creatively Going Green With Your Business

Monday, July 11, 2022

Going green is no longer just a niche catchphrase. It has become an increasingly mainstream part of doing business. In fact, in one recent study, 78 percent of Americans said they would be more likely to purchase environmentally friendly products, with 64 percent also willing to pay more for these products. Clearly, an environmental focus in business doesn't just help the environment — it can also have a direct impact on your bottom line. When you make sustainability a key focus of your business ventures, you will become much more appealing to customers who share similar values. Read full article.

3 Ways to Empower Everyone to Lead (and How to Do It)

Friday, July 08, 2022

If you ask managers, directors and executives to name the leaders of their company, most would be expected to point to themselves. They are the group who carry the formal, assigned responsibilities of leadership. However, if you ask those same leaders to name people in the organization with the biggest influence over culture, the most institutional knowledge or the greatest level of trust from fellow employees — qualities associated with leadership — the answers will often not be the same. Read full article.

Community Support is Essential for Creating Housing Opportunities

Thursday, July 07, 2022

Communities throughout the country are facing a housing crisis either due to a lack of housing units, as the result of prices skyrocketing past the level of affordability, or both. Solving this crisis requires creativity and the support of the entire community. As such, leaders who put forth policies without stakeholder support will find their proposals stalled while leaders who engage stakeholders from the very beginning will have partners willing to help bring about the necessary changes. Read full article.

Innovative and Collaborative Design Sets the Stage for Life Science Innovation

Wednesday, July 06, 2022

It is a thrilling time to be in the life sciences. Investment and employment in this sector have seen unprecedented gains, especially since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, the speed of innovation has accelerated, as demonstrated by the rapid development and production of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, to name just one. Of course, there are a host of other medical conditions — ranging from neurological conditions, heart disease, and cancer to Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes — that require the attention and best efforts of life science innovators. These forces have thrown a spotlight on this critica...

Front Line: Performing Physical Tasks Remotely

Tuesday, July 05, 2022

One of the major societal effects of the Covid-19 pandemic — aka The Big Reset — has been rapid and widespread growth of remote work, as companies allow more employees to perform tasks from their homes…or elsewhere. The biggest shift has been among office-based businesses, which require fewer on-site workers doing physical tasks than manufacturing or supply chain operations require. But even in the latter categories, rapid advances in automation are enabling more workers to “go digital,” experts say. Read full article.

Meet Springfield's Community Navigators

Friday, July 01, 2022

The new Community Navigator Program has two years and $1 million to make as big of an impact as it can in Springfield and some of its most underserved communities, says Reggie Troutman, the program’s director. The pilot program, designed to help socially and economically disadvantaged business owners, began just a few months ago. Troutman says it focuses on two things: Trust and impact. Read full article.

Putting Your Best Foot Forward: Presentation of Incentives Information to the Media

Friday, July 01, 2022

Companies receiving economic development incentives often have a great story to tell. The projects championed by those companies bring much needed jobs and investment to a local community. In exchange, the companies may receive various forms of economic development incentives, such as grants, tax credits, or loans. However, these incentives are not giveaways. Instead, the incentives are typically awarded on the condition that companies receiving them achieve certain metric commitments (i.e., jobs, payroll, and investment) to benefit the local community. Read full article.

Foreign-Trade Zones: The Best, Zero-Cost Incentive for Your Business

Thursday, June 30, 2022

Even though the FTZ program was created in 1934, its relevance today is huge. After the year 2002, when Customs allowed for weekly entry (which greatly increased the demand for zones in warehouse and fulfillment centers), the FTZ program entered an even more lucrative incentive profile. This profile is enhanced by the fact that over the last five years the U.S. government has decided to manipulate global trade that results in imports into the U.S. by increasing duty rates by a factor of 10. Prior to the Trump administration, the average duty rate in America for most imported goods was ...

The State Theater prepares to come back to life

Thursday, June 30, 2022

When Rod Hatfiled thinks back to the years of his youth in Springfield, he has fond memories of time spent at The State Theater. And so do his business partners Nick Demana, Patrick Field, and Dr. Ash Ahmed, who together make up the local investment organization Altered State Group (ASG), which gained ownership of The State Theater at the end of 2021. In addition to being partners, the quartet are lifelong friends who all graduated from Catholic Central High School in the 1980s. Read full article.

Five Ways for Manufacturers to Manage Global Market Volatility

Wednesday, June 29, 2022

Supply chain struggles…labor shortages…rising costs…crises — These are just a few of the massive challenges today’s manufacturers face, paired with some of the greatest demand ever seen. Determining the best path forward for success now and in the future can be confusing and daunting. While there’s no perfect one-size-fits-all solution, by asking the right questions, anticipating how challenges will impact business, and taking a comprehensive approach to updating and building facilities, manufacturers can future-proof operations and better manage global market volatility. Read full article.

Stronger Together returns as major western Clark County event

Wednesday, June 29, 2022

With about $100,000 raised during the first-time event, Stronger Together is back this July with hopes of raising even more funds to support local community organizations and individuals. "Overall, we had a big success," says Scott Griffith, a New Carlisle Rotary Club member and a Stronger Together organizer. "We were able to write a check for $25,000 to each of the three organizations. We were hoping for that, but we didn't know if we'd make it because it was our first year, and now we hope this year will exceed our first year." Read full article.

Best of Springfield 2022: Nominate here for your favorites

Tuesday, June 28, 2022

Tell us who’s the Best of Springfield for 2022! The Best of Springfield contest, brought to you by the Greater Springfield Partnership and the Springfield News-Sun, returns this year with 50 categories covering all the best aspects of live in the area. Read full article.

Retrofitting Office Space to Attract Life Sciences Companies

Tuesday, June 28, 2022

In recent years, record-breaking investment flowing into the life sciences sector has prompted unprecedented growth. As life sciences firms expand their facilities to keep up with demand, available space to accommodate these growing businesses — especially in well-known industry clusters like San Diego, Boston, and the San Francisco Bay Area — remains scarce. Leasing space in traditional office buildings can provide a solution for life sciences companies with dry lab needs, as well as those involved in cell and gene therapies and R&D. For office landlords grappling with uncertainty as other industries embrace remote and hybrid work policies, the life science...

OEDA 2022 Annual Excellence Awards – Call for Nominations

Monday, June 27, 2022

The Ohio Economic Development Association’s annual Excellence Awards program recognizes the achievements of individuals and organizations in Ohio in the areas of economic and workforce development. Submit your nominations today and have excellence in your community recognized statewide! A panel of judges will evaluate the nominations, determine finalists, and select a winner for each of the categories noted below. Award winners will be announced in conjunction with the 2022 OEDA Annual Summit, being held October 3-6 at the Exchange at Bridge Park in Dublin, Ohio. Read full article.

The Evolution of the Megasite

Monday, June 27, 2022

Competing on a national and global scale for large economic development projects — and winning — is a sure sign of a community’s vitality. A community’s ability to position large-scale, shovel-ready land tracts for investment consideration exponentially increases its ability to secure desired jobs and capital investment at the local level. For years, there has been a traditional understanding of megasite requirements. Originally created to meet the demands of the automotive OEM and allied industries, these sites were assumed to have consistent demands. Important factors have included fully contiguous land space; multimodal transportation, including access to rail; large-scale and redundant utilit...

Station to Station

Friday, June 24, 2022

Remember as a child trying to learn the difference between “electric” and “electronic,” two words separated only by that “ON” switch in the middle? Today — with a surge in EV demand and a shortage of semiconductors — they are the two most operative words in the automotive industry. How they twist together to alter the DNA of mobility is a story best told by an array of projects now flipping the “ON” switch. The billions of dollars in investment are coming in big chunks: Rivian’s $5 billion in Georgia; Mercedes’ 6 million sq. ft. in Alabama, Ford’s planned BlueOval meg...

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