he Northeast Ohio region offers all the advantages businesses need to grow in today's global marketplace, including Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) No. 181. The zone offers thousands of acres of prime industrial and warehouse space at numerous sites throughout the region to provide significant, ongoing cost savings for companies engaged in international trade.
      FTZ 181's strategically placed sites link together a world-class multimodal logistics system–another major advantage of doing business in Northeast Ohio. The region's logistics infrastructure includes the nation's fourth-largest highway system, three Class 1 railroads, four commercial airports and numerous lake and river ports to provide unbeatable intermodal shipping options for companies serving global markets.
      A strategic location enhances these advantages: Northeast Ohio is a major industrial corridor, geographically centered to provide easy access to major U.S. and Canadian markets, which means lower transportation costs. Northeast Ohio is within a day's drive of 50% of all U.S. and Canadian manufacturing. The region is supported by the State of Ohio's new business-friendly tax structure and millions of dollars invested in technology, education and workforce development. Northeast Ohio also offers world-class health care and a wide variety of recreational and cultural activities. That's why it's no surprise that thousands of companies call Northeast Ohio home–from major Fortune 500 companies headquartered there to many small- and medium-sized companies that find Northeast Ohio the perfect place to grow their business.
      The Northeast Ohio Trade and Economic Consortium (NEOTEC) works as a regional force to enhance economic opportunities in Northeast Ohio and strengthen its distinct advantages as a business location. NEOTEC serves as administrator of FTZ 181, provides export assistance services through its International Trade Assistance Center division, and works to improve market access in Northeast Ohio through well-defined logistics initiatives addressed by the Northeast Ohio Logistics Network. For more information, visit www.neotec.org, call (800)793-0912 or e-mail NEOTEC at neotec@kent.edu.