Latest News

Springfield’s Transportation Assets Are Good for Business

Saturday, February 08, 2020

National corporations like Speedway, Silfex, and Topre America are expanding in Springfield, in part, because of the conveniences offered by area transportation assets. From Springfield and Clark County, businesses have immediate access to Interstate 70 and Interstate 675. With Interstates 71 and 75 in close proximity, the location provides easy access to the majority of the U.S. population in under a day. Those transporting products via rail benefit from Clark County being served by the Indiana and Ohio Railway and Norfolk Southern. In addition, two miles south of Springfield and I-70 is a regional airport that provides travel and carg...

TAC expands to food industry through a new COhatch restaurant

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

The Abilities Connection (TAC) is expanding through a “quick serve restaurant” expected to open in mid-February. Fresh Abilities, a new salad restaurant inspired by Porttion, a Columbus-based start-up that deliverers healthy prepared meals nationally, will be one of five food tenants in COhatch The Market in downtown Springfield. Someone from TAC saw the COhatch sign about a year ago and thought TAC could be part of the “community based” co-working model, James Zahora, CEO of TAC, said. Read full article.

Clark State to offer professional sales certification

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Clark State Community College will offer a new online course beginning in February. The Professional Sales Ready Certification is a seven-week, 33-hour, non-credit course, according to news release from the college. “We are excited to offer this innovative training opportunity to our region,” said Lesli Beavers, director of workforce and business solutions for Clark State. “Our new Professional Sales Ready Certification will provide a valuable advantage for in-demand positions.” Read full article.

Ohio’s Stock is Rising in the Business Community

Friday, January 17, 2020

Ohio continues to climb in several annual state business rankings Ohio has received exciting news from a host of leading business publications, reaching into the Top 10 in the country in several annual state business rankings. Most notable, of course, is Ohio’s jump in the CNBC rankings from 23 in 2011 to 10, a jump from 41 in 2011 to nine in Chief Executive’s annual CEO survey as well as a first-ever Top 10 in Area Development Magazine’s ranking. Ohio also reached No. 3 of Site Selection Magazine’s Best State Business Climate rankings, making it the top-ranked state in the Midwest. Read full article.

New owner wraps up $2M renovation at Springfield Cinema 10

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Springfield’s staple movie theater is wrapping up a $2 million renovation under its new ownership. Minnesota-based United Entertainment Corp. took the reins at Cinema 10 in 2018 and has been working to renovate the aging theater into modernity. “Almost every square inch is getting a makeover,” said UEC Vice President of Operations Steve Ross. Read full article.

Gene Therapy Finds a Fertile Home in Ohio

Monday, January 13, 2020

The midwestern state has quietly laid the groundwork for a biotech hub. Sarepta Therapeutics’s outpost in Ohio occupies a collection of offices and labs on the second floor of a large, squat structure known as “Building 4” in a business park outside of Columbus. Despite the facility’s unassuming exterior, the start of research onsite here in spring 2019 marked a milestone in Ohio’s two-decade-long march toward becoming a gene therapy hub. “We’re making a very significant commitment and investment in Columbus,” Doug Ingram, the CEO of Cambridge, Massachusetts–based Sarepta, told Columbus Business First in an article about the new division. “There is a real chanc...

1 big thing: How Ohio boosted venture capital investment

Friday, January 10, 2020

In the battle for talent and economic growth, U.S. cities are often competing with each other to become the next tech hubs and in luring new investment and jobs. In Ohio, however, venture capital investors in three cities are working together to boost the state's startup appeal. Why it matters: The Midwest is hardly a hotbed for venture capital activity, the majority of which goes to New York, Massachusetts and California. But legacy Rust Belt states see a chance to attract entrepreneurs looking for alternatives to pricey cities like San Francisco. Read full article.

How To Handle Mondays As An Entrepreneur

Sunday, January 05, 2020

An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but it won’t do anything to cure you of a case of the Mondays. Making a successful transition from weekend mode to workweek mode can require practice. After all, we have a lot working against us on Mondays. For starters, science says sleeping in on the weekend can interfere with your body clock and result in a not so cheerful Monday morning. As psychologist Susanna Jernelöv, a sleep researcher at Sweden’s Karolinska Institute, explains, “It’s partly because of our circadian rhythm, so when you sleep in later, it’s like giving yourself a bi...

Opportunity Zones Slowly Beginning to Gather Company Investments

Monday, December 30, 2019

The federal government’s Opportunity Zone program is beginning to gather investments in operating companies in markets across the United States. Opportunity Zones are a federal government program that provides capital gains tax relief for taxpayers who invest in real estate or qualified companies in one of 8700 certified sites in all fifty states and US territories. The accounting firm Novogradac reports that the 287 Opportunity Zone funds they are tracking represent $64.9 billion in community development investing capacity. Furthermore, they reported that Qualified Opportunity Funds seeking capital from third-party investors is now at $3.17 billion based upon a survey of th...

How Entrepreneurs Can Stop Spreading Themselves Too Thin

Sunday, December 29, 2019

It’s not uncommon for entrepreneurs to live and breathe their work. It’s what most of our mentors and role models did to turn their own ideas into successful businesses. But at what cost? It may be taboo to discuss, but there’s a psychological price to being an entrepreneur. Founders experience everything from anxiety to depression. Others push themselves so hard that they abuse their bodies by neglecting their health. Feeling responsible for their companies, as well as others’ well-being — and livelihoods — can be overwhelming. Read full article.

A Great Year for Partnerships

Friday, December 27, 2019

As the year comes to a close, we all have an opportunity to reflect on Ohio’s success as well as focus on our mutual strategy of creating jobs and opportunity in 2020. After joining JobsOhio in March of 2019, my first priority was to meet with you, our partners, across Ohio to listen and understand your experiences with the organization, where we’ve excelled and where we can improve our partnership. This included input from business leaders in your communities, local officials and hundreds of others throughout the state who play an important role in how we create jobs and boost Ohio’s economy...

There Are No Age Limits To Becoming An Entrepreneur

Thursday, December 26, 2019

There’s no board-certified test for becoming an entrepreneur. You don’t have to go to a certain school or have a certain type of experience. That’s what makes this path in life so great. Do you want to do it? Then do it. People of all ages have started successful companies. Worrying about your age should be the last thing on your mind. It’s true that many businesses fail, but if you hold yourself back, you won’t take a swing at hitting a home run, either. So let’s get down to it. Read full article.

Uncommon voices in 2019

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Get inspiration and insight from uncommon voices in 2019 that aim to break down barriers to success and offer hope for the decade ahead. Countless inspirations and insights are helping to pave the way to hope for advancing inclusive and empowering entrepreneurship and education. Just ponder these uncommon ideas and examples from 2019 that offer promise for the coming year. Read full article.

Beware Of These Behavioral Biases When Launching A Startup App Idea

Monday, December 16, 2019

As an advisor to several starting entrepreneurs launching a startup app idea, I find it interesting how entrepreneurs come up with ideas and plans. Most of the time, our decisions are influenced by behavioral biases that, contrary to popular beliefs, can be beneficial as much as they can negatively affect startup performance. Understanding how we make decisions is the least we can do to optimize the outcome of those decisions. Here are 5 common behavioral biases that drive and influence our actions. Read full article.

How to Position Your Product in a Niche Market

Saturday, December 14, 2019

When you have a niche product -- something that positions a unique value proposition to a customer -- it can be hard to figure out your place in the product landscape and market competitively to your target customer. And despite the specificity of your business, you're still likely to have some competition. So, what’s the best way to position your product in a niche market? Read full article.

Research Supports Shopping Small this Holiday Season

Friday, December 13, 2019

Community members are encouraged to spend the day visiting and supporting small businesses. The National Federation of Businesses has data demonstrating just how important it is to shop small during the holiday season. For example, from 2010 – 2018, Small Business Saturday alone generated $103 billion in sales for small businesses, with 2018 setting a record of $17.8 billion in sales (National Federation of Independent Business, 2019). In addition, the majority of these businesses reported that the holiday season represented a significant portion of their annual sales. Additional Research Local holiday shopping generates billions in sales, but what happens to those dollars...

Unemployment rate, labor force up in Clark, Champaign counties

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

The unemployment rates for Clark and Champaign counties jumped in October as more people than previously projected are looking for jobs, according to monthly unemployment figures released by the state. The unemployment rate in Clark County increased from 4.2% in September to 5% in October, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. In Champaign County, the unemployment rate increased from 3.8% in September to 4.8% in October. Read full article.

National Skills Coalition selects Ohio Workforce Coalition to Join State Policy Advocacy Network

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

The National Skills Coalition has selected the Ohio Workforce Coalition to join SkillSPAN, a nationwide network of non-partisan coalitions focused on advancing state policies that expand economic opportunities for workers and their families, while boosting local businesses’ capacity. The Ohio Workforce Coalition joins the original 10 founding states and will receive a $25,000 grant to advance work throughout 2020. The Ohio Workforce Coalition brings three major goals to SkillSPAN, including building the skills of adult workers, working to meet the skill needs of employers, and strengthening the entire workforce system. Through this partnership, the Coalition will be better suited to accomplis...

Columbus setting the PACE nationally for commercial energy efficiency and sustainability financing

Monday, November 25, 2019

In under three years of operating its commercial PACE (property assessed clean energy) financing district, the greater Columbus region has become a national leader in energy efficiency and sustainability financing. With nearly $100 million invested, the region boasts the largest total investment of any region in the state. As of mid-2019, central Ohio also had the largest total commercial PACE investment of any single metropolitan region in the nation. In early 2016, the Columbus Regional Energy Special Improvement District was formed through the cooperation of the City of Columbus, the Columbus-Franklin County Finance Authority, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission and ...

Port Authority Receives ODOT Aviation Grant

Monday, November 25, 2019

(WILMINGTON, OHIO) The Clinton County Port Authority (Port Authority) received a Notice of Project Approval (NPA) indicating that it has successfully secured grant funds from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) FY2020 Ohio Airport Grant Program. These funds will be leveraged with Port Authority funds to complete repairs of concrete infrastructure on Taxiway A and Taxiway C, as well as replace lighted signs along Runway 22R/4L. “ODOT Aviation has offered consistent support of the Wilmington Air Park’s capital investment program, enabling continued rehabilitation of infrastructure and other aviation equipment,” said Port Authority Executive Director Dan Evers. “Growing operations at the airport...

Staffing firm interested in expanding to Springfield

Sunday, November 24, 2019

A Tennessee-based staffing firm is looking to do business in Springfield with the hopes of setting up an office in the area. Jason Leverant, the president and COO of AtWork, said his company is interested in Springfield due to the city’s location to other markets and the fact that it is home to a number of manufacturers. Read full article.

auticon, an IT and Compliance Consulting Business, Creates 50 New Jobs for Ohioans on the Autism Spectrum

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Collaborative tech community leads to company’s new regional headquarters Company Name: auticon Location: Columbus Industry Sector: IT Company Profile: auticon is an IT and compliance consulting business specifically employing adults on the autism spectrum as IT consultants. The company leverages demand for outsourced IT services to drive social change and create careers in high-tech for people with specialized abilities, improving their self-sufficiency and quality of life. Founded in Berlin, Germany, in 2011, auticon is a unique social enterprise that employs more than 170 IT consultants on the autism spectrum, making it the first enterprise to scale this model worldwide. The company currently has 15 offices across the globe...

Air Cargo Equipment Company Satco, Inc. Chooses Ohio For New Operations

Friday, November 01, 2019

CVG and local air cargo growth were major factors in investment decision Company Name: Satco, Inc. Location: Miami Township Industry Sector: Advanced Manufacturing Company Profile: Satco is a family-owned and operated manufacturing business that prides itself on building strong and lasting relationships with its customers, many of whom rank among the largest cargo airlines in the world. Satco manufactures unit load devices and air cargo equipment for commercial cargo and passenger aircraft. Company Website: https://www.satco-inc.com/ Read full article.

JOB ALERT: Cellphone company filling 50 permanent positions

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

AT&T needs about 50 workers ahead of the holiday for permanent positions, including some locally. Ahead of the holidays AT&T will hire 50 full- and part-time permanent employees at several Ohio stores, including the Alex Bell Road shop in Centerville. Read full article.

QuickLoadz Expansion Creates High-Wage, High-Tech Jobs in Ohio

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

The manufacturer of patented trucks and trailers will increase capacity and better serves customers with revitalization funding from JobsOhio Company Name: QuickLoadz Container System (QuickLoadz) Location: Athens Industry Sector: Advanced Manufacturing Company Profile: QuickLoadz Container System (QuickLoadz) is a rapidly growing manufacturer of patented truck beds and trailers that automatically load and unload shipping containers. Company Website: www.quickloadz.com Project Summary: Type of Project: Expansion Number of Jobs: Jobs committed: 40 Capital Investment: $1.2 million Read full article.

Centerville-Springfield firm named to massive $1B defense contract

Monday, October 28, 2019

A company with a presence in both Centerville and Springfield has a role in the execution of a $996 million defense contract. SelectTech Services, of Centerville, will join other firms from across the nation in a newly awarded Air Force contract. The work is in support of various aircraft modifications to Air Force fixed wing and rotary aircraft platforms, a contract announcement said. Read full article.

Classic Car Insurer Hagerty Will Create More Than 120 Jobs in Ohio

Monday, October 28, 2019

Ohio’s business and automotive communities draw the purpose-driven company Company Name: Hagerty Location: Dublin Industry Sector: Financial Services Company Profile: Hagerty is the world’s largest membership, insurance and media organization for collectible vehicles and owners, and an automotive brand dedicated to the love and protection of driving. Company Website: www.hagerty.com Project Summary: Type of Project: New location Number of Jobs: Jobs committed: 127 Types of jobs: Licensed sales agents, adjusters, IT professionals and back office support Read full article.

Here’s Why Ohio Is a ‘Powerhouse’ in the U.S. Aerospace and Defense Industry

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Ohio is a “powerhouse” in the national aerospace and defense industry, with Dayton as a key player in this effort. That’s the view from Joe Zeis, aerospace and defense advisor for the state of Ohio. He elaborated on this outlook at the Dayton Business Journal Aerospace and Defense Forum Oct. 10, serving as a panelist alongside Col. Parker Wright, commander of the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base; Timothy Sakulich, director of materials and manufacturing directorate at the Air Force Research Laboratory; and Angela Fronista, president and CEO of BTAS. Read full article.

Ohio Development Services Agency – Census 2020

Friday, October 25, 2019

Once every decade, America comes together to count every resident in the United States. The decennial census has been conducted since 1790, and constitutionally mandates the count of our population and households. The next census occurs in April 2020. The census is the basis for redistricting and reapportioning the number of representatives in U.S. Congress. The population count helps decide where new schools and hospitals are needed and where to add public safety resources. It determines how the federal government will distribute more than $675 billion dollars to state and local communities. Businesses use the census data to decide where t...

Strengthening the U.S. Workforce Pipeline Through Collaborative Action

Friday, October 25, 2019

Northeast Ohio rallies corporations, educational institutions and workforce organizations to realign the talent demand and supply imbalance Like so many regions across the United States, Northeast Ohio is experiencing an imbalance in workforce demand and supply: Job opportunities abound in growing, high-potential industries, but the current talent pool lacks the appropriate knowledge and skills to fill many of these positions. Economic development, corporate, workforce and education partners have joined forces to address this situation with urgency, working to build a strong, qualified talent pipeline to meet the present and future needs of the region’s businesses. Read full article.

Made in Springfield Is a Matter of Pride for the Local Workforce

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Springfield, Ohio is home to creators, makers, craftsmen and entrepreneurs. We are a maker community that supports all types of manufacturing. With our convenient location, available property and skilled workforce, we have everything a manufacturing company needs to thrive in today’s competitive global marketplace. Springfield Proud Made in Springfield is a matter of pride for our local workforce. We know the dedication that goes into producing the best quality products, innovating and creating solutions. It’s what we do, and we do it well. Some Clark County makers are turning their ability and passion for creating things into operating businesses. For example, Jeanne an...

Sheehan Brothers Vending Serves 26 Counties from their Springfield Headquarters

Monday, September 16, 2019

A locally-owned family business, Sheehan Brothers Vending has been rapidly expanding since the company first opened in 1956 as a gumball route. They have taken these modest beginnings and grown into a full-service vending company offering everything from traditional vending machines to office coffee service to Contemporary Cafes (their version of a micro market). They originally served customers in the Springfield market only. Now, they have customers in 26 counties that are serviced on a daily basis. Sheehan Brothers Vending is Expanding in Springfield, Ohio The company has undergone several major facilities expansions to accommodate their growth. Currently, they are in th...

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