< Previous128 OHIO BUSINESS GROWTH GUIDE The expansion includes a state-of-the- art education center and a 6,000-sq.-ft. multipurpose venue. “This transformation will expand the Rock Hall’s iconic structure to meet the demands of its evolving mandate: to showcase the past, present and future of rock & roll as the defining sound of each generation’s youth,” said Vishaan Chakrabarti, founder and creative director at PAU. A Merger of Roller-Coasters While Ohio’s two most famous halls of fame get bigger and more modern, another legacy name is receiving its own injection of new life. Cedar Fair, the owner and operator of Cedar Point and Kings Island — two of the most famous theme parks in America — is merging with Six Flags in an $8 billion deal that brings 42 amusement parks, nine resorts and 15 water parks across the U.S., Canada and Mexico under one corporate umbrella. Shareholders voted to approve the merger on March 12, making the new entity one of the largest entertainment companies on the planet. Cedar Point in Sandusky is the flagship park of Cedar Fair, which also owns Knott’s Berry Farm in California, Kings Island in Cincinnati, and Kings Dominion in Richmond, Virginia. Cedar Fair shareholders possess a 51% stake in the new company, which is expected to generate $3.4 billion in revenue. Theme parks, halls of fame and lots of other attractions keep Ohio’s tourism industry humming. In 2022, around 233 million tourist visits supported 424,339 jobs and generated 47 million overnight visits. Total visitor spending, meanwhile, rose from $47 billion in 2021 to $53 billion in 2022. To keep visitor traffic flowing, Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted unveiled a new “Ohio, The Heart of it All” ad campaign in 2023. Used as the state’s tourism slogan from 1984 to 2001, the tagline is back to showcase that “this is a brand for all of Ohio, uniting everything we love about our great state under one powerful phrase,” DeWine said. To see all Ohio has to offer throughout its beautiful 4-seasons, visit Ohio.org. Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. Photo courtesy of Ohio, The Heart of it AllOHIO: THE BUSINESS GROWTH GUIDE 129 PHOTO GALLERY BUCKEYE STATE Ohio and Erie Canalway Towpath Trail through Summit Lake Metropark in Akron Photo courtesy of Ohio, The Heart of It All130 OHIO: THE BUSINESS GROWTH GUIDE val Columbus Arena District during the Jazz and Rib Festival Photo courtesy of Brand Columbus National Museum of the Great Lakes in Toledo Photo courtesy of Ohio, The Heart of It AllSnow Trails in Mansfi eld Photo courtesy of Ohio, The Heart of It All OHIO: THE BUSINESS GROWTH GUIDE Smale Riverfront Park in Cincinnati Photo courtesy of Ohio, The Heart of It All The Wilds, Wildlife Sanctuary in Zanesville Photo courtesy of Ohio, The Heart of It All Hancock County Courthouse Photo courtesy of Visit Findlay132 OHIO: THE BUSINESS GROWTH GUIDE Amish Country Ohio Photo courtesy of Ohio, The Heart of It All Put-in-Bay Photo courtesy of Ohio, The Heart of It All Newark Photo courtesy of Ohio, The Heart of It All Findlay Market, Cincinnati Photo courtesy of Visit CincyOHIO: THE BUSINESS GROWTH GUIDE 133 Tom’s Ice Cream Bowl in Zanesville Cincinnati Bengals Paycor Stadium Photo courtesy of Visit Cincy Memorial Golf Tournament at Muirfi eld Village Golf Club in Dublin Photo courtesy of Ohio, The Heart of It All Lower.com Field in Columbus, home to the MLS Cup Champion Columbus Crew Photo courtesy of Columbus Crew Tom’s Ice Cream Bowl in Zanesville Photo courtesy of Ohio, The Heart of It All134 OHIO: THE BUSINESS GROWTH GUIDE Hocking Hills Canopy Tours Photo courtesy of Ohio, The Heart of It All Kuchta Farms in Braceville Photo courtesy of Ohio, The Heart of It AllOHIO: THE BUSINESS GROWTH GUIDE 135 Blazing Paddles Paddlefest in Cleveland Photo courtesy of Ohio, The Heart of It All136 OHIO BUSINESS GROWTH GUIDE AD INDEX Antioch University 77 https://www.antioch.edu Bowling Green State University 84-85 https://www.bgsu.edu Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport 67 https://www.cvgairport.com City of Dublin- Economic Development 91 https://dublintakescareofbusiness.com City of Grove City 41 https://www.grovecityohio.gov City of Hudson 44 https://www.hudson.oh.us/562/Businesses City of Kettering- Economic Development Department 112 https://www.ketteringoh.org City of Mentor- Department of Planning & Development 43 https://www.mentormeansbusiness.com City of Middletown Economic Development Department 12-13 http://www.choosemiddletownoh.org City of North Royalton 45 https://www.northroyalton.org City of Painesville 39 https://www.painesville.com City of Sylvania- Economic Development 53 https://www.cityofsylvania.com Cleveland Airport System 63 https://www.clevelandairport.com Coalition for the Common Good 18-19 https://www.otterbein.edu/new-system-announcement Dayton Development Coalition 109 https://www.daytonregion.com Dublin Building Systems 93 https://www.dublinbuilding.com Grow Licking County 42 https://www.growlickingcounty.org Hardin County Chamber and Business Alliance 51 https://www.hccba.com Hometown Opportunity 71 https://hometownopportunity.com JobsOhio BC https://www.jobsohio.com Kokosing IFC-1 https://www.kokosing.biz Lake to River Foundation, Inc 11 https://www.laketoriverohio.org Montgomery County Community & Economic Development 20 https://www.selectmcohio.com Ohio Southeast Economic Development 49 https://ohiose.com One Columbus 6-7 https://columbusregion.com Otterbein University 75 https://www.otterbein.edu/advantage REDI Cincinnati 47 https://redicincinnati.com Regional Growth Partnership 96-97 https://rgp.org Renier Construction IBC https://renier.com Team NEO 117 https://northeastohioregion.com The Beta District 103 https://www.thebetadistrict.com The Ohio State University 87 https://go.osu.edu/carmenton Tuscarawas Economic Development Corporation 21 https://www.tuscedc.com Union County Economic Development Partnership 100 https://unioncounty.org University of Cincinnati / Innovation Hub / Cincinnati Innovation District 89 http://innovation.uc.edu Warren County Ohio 107 https://www.co.warren.oh.us Wayne Economic Development Council 92 https://www.waynecountyedc.com Youngstown State University 72-73 https://ysu.edu Advertiser PageAdvertiser PageNext >