January – March 2025
Celebrating Growth, Engagement, and Impact Across Ohio
From Momentum to Milestones: OEDA’s Q1 2025 in Review
As we close the first quarter of 2025, OEDA continues to gain momentum across every area of our work—from membership and staffing to communications, programming, and partnerships. This report highlights key achievements and milestones from January through March, reflecting both the strength of our network and the strategic progress we’re making to support economic development professionals statewide. We thank everyone involved for being part of this incredible journey.
PEOPLE
Membership Growth
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709 members – a 12% increase since September.
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Now the 5th largest state-level economic development association in the U.S., surpassing Georgia and North Carolina.
Team Expansion
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Amanda Miller joins next week as our new Marketing & Engagement Manager, selected from a pool of 650+ applicants.
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This marks the first time in OEDA’s 20-year history we have three full-time staff members—a milestone moment for capacity and impact.
Commitment to Inclusion
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We’ve refreshed our Inclusion & Opportunity Committee, adding 7 new members.
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Our focus remains on engaging and supporting all communities and professionals—rural, suburban, and urban; public, private, and nonprofit—across every region of Ohio.
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Aligned with JobsOhio and the State of Ohio’s goal to bring economic development opportunities to all Ohioans.
COMMUNICATION & ENGAGEMENT
Social Media Growth
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3,000+ followers on LinkedIn, up from 1,200 in September.
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OEDA now ranks:
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#7 in total followers among top state associations
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#1 in growth, total posts, and engagement
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Newsletters & Open Rates
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30+ editions of the OEDA Express and Insider issued since fall.
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OEDA Advocate now in its 10th edition.
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Recent Express newsletter achieved:
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52% open rate
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15% click rate – both well above industry averages.
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PROGRAMMING
Standard & Expanded Offerings
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Core Course held: Economic Development Finance & Incentives.
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Advanced ED Sales Training returned (first time since 2018), led by Carol Johnson in partnership with JobsOhio.
Ongoing Education
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Basic and Core course registration is on track to match or exceed 2024 record levels.
Webinars
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Delivered 5 topical webinars in 7 months:
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Tariffs
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Data Centers
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Master Planning
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Fireside Chats with Jeff Finkle and OEDA/APA
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Compared to 3 total webinars the entire 12 months prior.
Legislative Conference
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Relaunched after a five-year hiatus.
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Sold out, broke even, received high attendee satisfaction, and confirmed for return in 2026.
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New Government Affairs Committee formed and meeting monthly.
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OEDA adopted its 7th official policy position in 20 years.
Annual Summit Momentum
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29 sponsors committed, exceeding 80% of fundraising goal.
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Content proposals submitted: 8
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Field trips planned: 5
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Growing exhibitor interest and strong planning collaboration led by Jason Kester, Max Upton, and the Summit Committee.
FINANCIAL & STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Investor Growth
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Investor count doubled: From 9 to 18 in Q1.
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Funding doubled compared to 2024.
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Key milestone: The Ohio Department of Development has renewed its organizational partnership with OEDA—thank you to Director Lydia Mihalik for her support.