COLUMBUS, Ohio – In a strategic move to enhance economic development in the northeastern corner of Ohio, JobsOhio created a seventh and final regional network partner in 2024.

The Lake to River Economic Development region comprises Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana and Ashtabula counties.

Its goal is to take the economic development momentum created by JobsOhio and Team NEO to the next level, says J.P. Nauseef, president and CEO of Columbus-based JobsOhio, the state’s private economic development corporation.

With a focus on continued growth in the four-county region, Lake to River is fostering growth, innovation and community development, Nauseef says.

In the Lake to River region, Jobs-
Ohio observed significant increases in deals (56%), jobs (37%), payroll (90%), and job retention (377%) over the last five years compared to the previous five, 2015-2019.

Some notable projects from 2024 include:

  • Ursa Major’s plans to establish a new research and development center in Boardman. The center would advance additive manufacturing and materials development technology for liquid rocket engines and solid rocket motors to accelerate propulsion technology vital to national security.
  • The Youngstown Air Reserve Station broke ground on a main gate relocation project, supported by assistance from JobsOhio. When complete, the project will meet the prescribed antiterrorism/force protection standards laid out by the U.S. Department of Defense.
  • Two JobsOhio Vibrant Communities projects were also announced in East Liverpool. These projects will redevelop and revitalize downtown buildings, driving additional investment and economic development.
  • A partnership between the village of East Palestine and Small Nation was facilitated by JobsOhio. This connects Small Nation’s expertise in revitalizing Ohio’s small downtowns with the local knowledge to empower business owners, property stakeholders and entrepreneurs with a developmental strategy for the future of East Palestine.

Ohio is consistently beating the competition as a location for businesses and their people to thrive, Nauseef says.

“JobsOhio has a unique model that blends the agility of a private enterprise with a mission-driven public purpose,” he notes.

In 2024, JobsOhio worked alongside Team Ohio and the JobsOhio Network to solidify the state as an economic development leader. It ranked third in the country for projects, third for investment, and fifth for new jobs.

JobsOhio last year broke its record for total project completions by achieving 574. It created 19,358 jobs with a payroll of $1.617 billion, and fixed assets investment of $20.3 billion, according to Nauseef.

These project completions reflect JobsOhio’s comprehensive approach to economic development, with projects centered around company expansions, the Ohio Site Inventory Program, SiteOhio, Vibrant Communities, Air Service Restoration and Innovation Districts, Nauseef says.

Since 2019, Ohio has experienced a swing in momentum across nearly every measure of economic vitality, he says.

Project wins have increased by 47% to 2,155 developments, creating over 126,000 jobs.

New payroll climbed 27% to $6.6 billion, putting more money in Ohioans’ pockets, while capital expenditure commitments leaped 85% to $67 billion.

Nauseef believes that now is the time to chart an ambitious path forward. Toward that end, JobsOhio is completing its next five-year strategic plan, JobsOhio 2030. This plan will build on the state’s momentum while seizing emerging opportunities in high-growth, high-potential sectors.