JobsOhio released 2014 annual report

By Brandon Klein | March 3, 2015 at 12:05a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

It was a good year for economic development in Ohio, according to an annual report released Monday by Jobs-Ohio.

The state’s nonprofit economic-development agency reported 286 projects that created 21,377 jobs, retained 52,140 jobs and provided $6.1 billion in capital investment for Ohio.

In 2013, there were 264 projects that created 17,857 jobs, and retained 70,449 jobs with $3.6 billion in capital investment.

“In 2014, JobsOhio and its network partners successfully assisted 276 companies that committed to create 21,377 new jobs for Ohioans and make $6.1 billion in new capital investments,” Matt Englehart, JobsOhio spokesman, said in a statement. “These new job and investment commitments represent nearly a 20 percent and a 72 percent increase, respectively, over 2013 year-end metrics.”

The report was released when Ohio was ranked No. 2 in Site Selection magazine’s Governor’s Cup for the second year. Ohio’s 582 projects, which include Jobs-Ohio project numbers, were cited as the reason for the ranking.

“Our consistent high ranking shows that more job creators are learning what we have known all along: Ohio is a premier place to live, work and do business,” John Minor, JobsOhio president and chief investment officer, said in a statement.

Team Northeast Ohio is the JobsOhio regional network partner for the state’s Northeast region. According to the annual report, Team NEO reported 3,794 jobs created, 11,865 jobs retained, with $1.3 billion in capital investment.

The region “really had a strong start” at the beginning of the year although it slowed down near the end, said Christine Nelson, Team NEO’s vice president of regional business development.

Walt Good, Team NEO’s senior director of regional business development, cited notable projects in the Mahoning Valley. That includes Matalco Inc., a Brampton, Ontario-based company that makes aluminum billets, which broke ground for its $100 million facility in Lordstown that would create 60 full-time personnel jobs.

“It was a big win for the area,” Good said.

For 2015, Team NEO’s pipeline of projects are growing with half of them focused on attracting companies to come to the region, Nelson said.