What does Ohio need to make it thrive? (Columbus, Cleveland: transplants, sales)

[crystalblue]

Seems to have so many positives (cept the weather! )

what does the state need to stop the people from leaving, attract more businesses, etc...

[South Range Family]

We need to become more business friendly.

We have natural resources. We have infrastructure. We have a central location for shipping. We have quality employees that show up every day. So what are we lacking that causes businesses to locate to other States?

I won't include businesses that are moving to other Countries because all States are having that trouble. What causes a business to locate to another State? Tax laws, and perceptions. We are perceived as a strong union State. I don't believe that there is any such thing as a strong union anymore, but the perception still scares potential businesses away.

I worked in the South. They love Northern transplants because they know that we show up every day, and are not in slow motion. It's still cheaper for them to build in the business friendly South, because they know that good workers are willing to relocate.

[Beavercreek33]

Originally Posted by South Range Family

We need to become more business friendly.

We have natural resources. We have infrastructure. We have a central location for shipping. We have quality employees that show up every day. So what are we lacking that causes businesses to locate to other States?

I won't include businesses that are moving to other Countries because all States are having that trouble. What causes a business to locate to another State? Tax laws, and perceptions. We are perceived as a strong union State. I don't believe that there is any such thing as a strong union anymore, but the perception still scares potential businesses away.

I worked in the South. They love Northern transplants because they know that we show up every day, and are not in slow motion. It's still cheaper for them to build in the business friendly South, because they know that good workers are willing to relocate.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Ohio already has it all. We just need to become more tax friendly to businesses. And when we do, look out. One of the best things is, Ohio can compete with anyone on any level, we just need the right government in place, and right now, we do not have that.

[215GUY]

Better leaders

[rebeccamartin]

Originally Posted by Beavercreek33

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Ohio already has it all. We just need to become more tax friendly to businesses. And when we do, look out. One of the best things is, Ohio can compete with anyone on any level, we just need the right government in place, and right now, we do not have that.

Yes dude you absolutely right about this

[gizmobizmo]

I think that the larger metro areas of Ohio would grow significantly with the addition of "Light Rail and Commuter Rail." For those who aren't familiar with "Light Rail," this isn't the loud, heavy freight rail. It is very quiet.

Cleveland currently has light rail but the other large metro areas are way behind the times. Models in other cities, like Charlotte, NC have proven that light rail will attract business and folks who want to live within the city. One of the biggest detractors of living in an Urban environment in difficulty getting around, parking, etc.....

To use Charlotte, NC once again, their light rail system attracted significantly more ridership within the first year than they expected and are looking to expand. Businesses and condos have popped up all along the rail line. It has succeeded beyond their wildest dreams and the naysayers who poo pooed the idea are feeling pretty sheepish at the moment.

Just my .02

[Buckeye in SC]

Originally Posted by Beavercreek33

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Ohio already has it all. We just need to become more tax friendly to businesses. And when we do, look out. One of the best things is, Ohio can compete with anyone on any level, we just need the right government in place, and right now, we do not have that.

I would take it a little further than just being more tax friendly to business, they also need to be more friendly to individuals as well! There needs to be more interdependent thinking between the cities & state together. For example, some of cities now don't give a full credit to individuals who work in another city that withholds local tax. So someone could end up paying 3-4% just in local income taxes, and even if your city does offer a full credit, most are 2 - 2.25% now. This is on top of already higher than national average real estate taxes and national average sales taxes! Yet, somehow schools have trouble being adequately funded and cities have no money?? Something doesn't add up.

I would also say there needs to be more regional and state unity as far as getting businesses to come. I know at least where I lived in Stark County, a lot of the cities would just woo and sweet talk businesses to leave nearby cities - like getting a business to move from Canton to Massillon or from Louisville to Alliance instead of focusing on getting foreign investors or those from other states. So one's gain was another loss, even though many people live in Massillon and work in Canton or live in Louisville and work in North Canton, etc., so essentially there was no net gain for the regional economy. Cities especially seem to be so focused on only themselves, that very little seems to get accomplished instead of realizing that hey, if Canton gets a new business from out of state, all of us little surrounding cities benefit b/c a lot of our people go there to work, so lets work hard to just get the business to come to the area, and whatever is the best fit for them, so be it; instead of fighting over it and then they decide to go south or west when some other city persuaded them to move to. I know it's not just that easy that all the cities view themselves as a team, and I'm sure there are a lot more complications to getting a new business to relocate to an area, but it seemed to me that there was more bickering and fighting all the time than trying to get anything accomplished. Which is partially why the Canton metro is probably suffering so much right now.

[Beavercreek33]

Originally Posted by gizmobizmo

I think that the larger metro areas of Ohio would grow significantly with the addition of "Light Rail and Commuter Rail." For those who aren't familiar with "Light Rail," this isn't the loud, heavy freight rail. It is very quiet.

Cleveland currently has light rail but the other large metro areas are way behind the times. Models in other cities, like Charlotte, NC have proven that light rail will attract business and folks who want to live within the city. One of the biggest detractors of living in an Urban environment in difficulty getting around, parking, etc.....

To use Charlotte, NC once again, their light rail system attracted significantly more ridership within the first year than they expected and are looking to expand. Businesses and condos have popped up all along the rail line. It has succeeded beyond their wildest dreams and the naysayers who poo pooed the idea are feeling pretty sheepish at the moment.

Just my .02

Well Charlotte is very similar to Cleveland's case. Besides that, Ohio and North Carolina go hand in hand. Raleigh, like Columbus, is a thriving and sprawling city with no plans for light rail. Ohio has a head start on the 3C corridor, North Carolina has no plan like that.

[Daytonnatian]

Hey, I can post again (if this goes through-It's a bad idea to make a deragatory Georgia without carefully crafting it into an arguement, because then it's called "trolling". Total BS)

Anyways, I'd say light rail as a top priority, followed closely by an effort to try and really create a definition for the state of Ohio through ad campaigns and inititaves. Public perception can work wonders.

[Buckeye in SC]

Wow, not even a day later from my post, and I get exhibit A to back up mine and the others who have talked about Ohio not being 'business-friendly' state. It appears from the article that the local leaders tried to keep the company in Massillon, but to no avail.

MCA Industries to leave Massillon after 105 years - Canton, OH - CantonRep.com

If nothing else, will be a nice addition for my adopted state over in Aiken which is a bit smaller than Massillon.