Global Engagement Adds to Ohio’s Job Pipeline

JobsOhio.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) benefits Ohio’s economy in many ways and is playing a major role in contributing to Ohio’s job pipeline. First quarter results show that Ohio projects overall are up 13.5 percent and job numbers are up 34 percent compared to this time last year, thanks in part to FDI. International investment in Ohio is up more than 11 percent from last year, leading to a 68.5 percent increase in FDI-related jobs.

In the first quarter, international companies from Europe and the Middle East committed to expanding in Ohio, including Borgers, a German automotive supplier, and Alkermes, a growing biopharmaceutical company from Ireland.

Trade shows like 2017 SelectUSA Investment Summit in Washington, D.C., attended this week by JobsOhio and economic development partners from across the state, have been an important source of new international investment in the past. Ohio’s team made crucial connections at SelectUSA in 2015 that attracted Italy-based Sofidel to central Ohio, creating 310 jobs and a nearly $260 million investment. Connections made at that same event resulted in U.K.-based Mineral Insulated Cable Company’s choice of Northwest Ohio earlier this month as its U.S. entry point.

JobsOhio and its partners hope to once again make and nurture strong connections with global investors from numerous industries looking to expand and hopefully bring jobs to Ohio.