Recognizing Ohio as the state with the most new or expanded private-sector capital projects in 2009, Site Selection magazine Editor Mark Arend admitted being surprised to return.
He presented the magazine's "Governor's Cup" to Governor Ted Strickland at the sprawling Alcoa complex south of downtown Cleveland.
MARK AREND:
"We're certainly impressed with all of the measures that the Governor's Economic Development team is putting in place. It is just somewhat unusual to see one state win three and four times consecutively."
Ohio won the award for its 381 qualifying projects - fewer than in 2008, but enough to once again edge runners-up Texas and Michigan.
The largest economic contributions cited were the $970 million dollar V&M Star Steel expansion in Youngstown - creating 400 jobs; Sandusky County's $175 million Whirlpool investment, and Alcoa's $111 million expansion in Cleveland and Cuyahoga Heights.
The impact of the award and the accompanying ten page spread in the magazine is hard to gauge, but Arend says their readership is primarily leaders of firms looking to invest or expand in the best possible business climate.
State Development Director Lisa Patt-McDaniel calls 'that'; an Ohio strength.
LISA PATT-McDANIEL
"In a time when it's been very difficult for companies to invest, and they're thinking longer and harder about making those decisions, they are choosing Ohio more often because we are a place of opportunity and innovation."
The magazine also touted Ohio's lack of a general tax on corporate profits, the Third Frontier program, and an available work force with advanced educational degrees.
