COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 9, 2026 – Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel, JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef, and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik at present introduced that Ohio has been named the No. 1 state for enterprise in CNBC’s 2026 America’s Top States for Business rankings, the primary time the state has held the highest spot because the examine launched in 2007. It can be the primary time a Midwestern state has led the rankings since Minnesota in 2015.
Ohio climbed from No. 5 in 2025 to No. 1 in 2026, capping a run of 5 straight years of enchancment and an increase of 33 spots since 2010, when Ohio ranked No. 34. CNBC’s examine evaluated all 50 states throughout 138 metrics in 10 classes of competitiveness, essentially the most metrics the examine has ever used.
This primary rating proves that Ohio is the perfect place in America for enterprise and all that comes together with it, together with jobs, high quality of life and alternatives for everybody to stay as much as their God-given potential,” stated Governor DeWine. “Ohio’s long-term workforce and economic development strategy is working. We are outpacing every other state in the nation because we have worked together to create a strong economy, pro-business environment and a workforce that is ready to innovate.
Ohio Investing in Workforce Development
Lt. Gov. Tressel, who leads Ohio’s workforce development strategy, points to the state’s focus on connecting Ohioans directly to in-demand careers as a major factor in Ohio’s successful strategy to become the top state for business.
Opportunities are everywhere in Ohio right now! We have so many innovative workforce development programs that create talent pipelines that align with real employer demand, like WorkOhio and JobsOhio’s Experiential Learning Initiative, just to name a few,” stated Lt. Governor Tressel. (*1*) stated Nauseef. “Ohio succeeds because the state government, JobsOhio, the Ohio Department of Development, the JobsOhio Network Partners, regional economic development organizations, higher education, employers, workforce partners, Ohio business advocates, and local communities all work toward the same goal. That alignment is one of Ohio’s greatest competitive advantages.
Ohio didn’t become the No. 1 state for business overnight. We earned it by investing in our people, strengthening our communities, and creating an environment where companies can build for the long term,” stated Director Mihalik. “Ohio provides low value of doing enterprise, low value of residing, and an distinctive high quality of life—giving corporations each benefit to develop whereas creating alternative for the individuals who name Ohio residence. That’s what it means to Have It All within the Heart of It All.
Projects of Historic Scale
Ohio’s rise within the rankings has coincided with a string of the biggest financial improvement tasks in state historical past and JobsOhio’s present five-year technique, JobsOhio 2030, which launched the idea of tremendous sectors to Ohio for the primary time. Super sectors are cross-cutting trillion-dollar industries that converge with complementary applied sciences, markets, workforces, provide chains and clients – making a hyper-growth ecosystem. These embrace Advanced Aerospace & Defense, Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Life Sciences & Biotechnology, and Semiconductors & Microelectronics.
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Intel’s semiconductor funding in Licking County stands as the biggest capital funding venture in Ohio historical past.
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Anduril Industries’ $910 million Arsenal-1 manufacturing campus in Pickaway County, anticipated to create greater than 4,000 jobs, is the biggest job creation venture in Ohio historical past.
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Joby Aviation’s superior air mobility manufacturing web site is the biggest aviation venture in Ohio historical past.
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The LG Energy Solution-Honda battery plant – now generally known as L-H Battery Company – stands as one of the vital international manufacturing investments ever made within the state.
Growth isn’t simply occurring with massive corporations; financial improvement in Ohio extends to small companies and communities. Since 2019, JobsOhio has invested $24 million in small companies by the JobsOhio Small Business Grant and $26 million in communities by its Vibrant Communities Program.
From 2019 by 2025, JobsOhio accomplished 3,117 financial improvement tasks, a 59% enhance over the prior seven-year interval. Those tasks created 159,000 internet new direct jobs, grew annual payroll by 35% to over $9.2 billion, and greater than doubled capital funding to over $99 billion, a rise of 117%.
About JobsOhio
JobsOhio, Ohio’s personal nonprofit financial improvement company, enhances firm progress and personnel improvement by enterprise attraction, retention, and enlargement throughout ten aggressive business sectors. With a crew of seasoned professionals, JobsOhio makes use of a complete community to foster expertise manufacturing in focused industries and appeal to expertise by Find Your Ohio. Collaborating with seven regional companions, together with Dayton Development Coalition, Lake to River Economic Development, Ohio Southeast Economic Development, One Columbus, REDI Cincinnati, Regional Growth Partnership, and Team NEO, JobsOhio delivers world-class customer support to supply corporations with a aggressive benefit. Learn extra about what makes Ohio the No. 1 state for enterprise at www.jobsohio.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, X and Facebook.
For extra info, contact:
Daniel Tierney, Governor’s Press Office
614-995-2500
Matt Englehart, JobsOhio
614-300-1152
Mason Waldvogel, Ohio Department of Development
614-466-2609