Press Release: Ohio Wins Site Selection Magazine’s Governor’s Cup Award for 2009

Atlanta, March 3, 2010: Ohio has won the 2009 Site Selection Governor’s Cup, which the 56-year-old Atlanta-based magazine has awarded annually since 1978 to the U.S. state with the most new and expanded corporate facilities as tracked by Conway Data Inc.’s New Plant Database. Conway Data publishes Site Selection, the oldest publication in the corporate real estate and economic development field, and the official publication of the Industrial Asset Management Council (IAMC, at www.iamc.org). Site Selection’s yearly analyses are regarded by corporate real estate analysts as “the industry scoreboard.” The magazine’s circulation base consists of 44,000 executives involved in corporate site selection decisions, most at the CEO/President/COO level.

Ohio claims the 2009 Governor’s Cup with 381 projects, after claiming the 2008 Cup with 503 projects. This is Ohio’s fourth consecutive Governor’s Cup and its fifth in seven years. Texas came in second this year with 374 projects, followed by Michigan (371), Pennsylvania (333) and Tennessee (234).

“Like every governor in America, I am facing very severe challenges,” Ohio Governor Ted Strickland tells Site Selection. “During these times of challenge, we have tried to determine priorities and focus on the factors that are essential to future growth and development.”

Among the priorities the governor cites are tax reform and making the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation more effective. Cutting red tape, keeping utility costs competitive, reducing the size of state government and Ohio’s Third Frontier program supporting strategic, high-tech enterprises also played a role. Additionally, a $1.57-billion economic stimulus bill signed in June 2008 – before the federal stimulus package was enacted in early 2009 – “also contributed to Ohio’s business climate in 2009,” says Strickland. “It has given us access to some tools we have used to encourage investment in Ohio,” particularly in the logistics and renewable energy sectors.

“It is a privilege to be the bearer of good news in the economic development arena, particularly during challenging economic times,” says Mark Arend, editor in chief of Site Selection. “Ohio fought hard in 2009 to win new projects and to expand existing operations in the state. Its 381 projects and fourth consecutive Governor’s Cup are proof that many companies are investing and growing in Ohio because they want to be there.”

The magazine’s New Plant Database focuses on new corporate location projects with significant impact. It does not track retail and government projects, or schools and hospitals. New facilities and expansions included in the analyses must meet at least one of three criteria: (a) involve a capital investment of at least US$1 million, (b) create at least 50 new jobs or (c) add at least 20,000 sq. ft. (1,858 sq. m.) of new floor area.

More New Plant Tallies

For metro areas with populations over 1 million, the Top 10 Metros for new and expanded corporate facilities for 2009, in order, were New York-Newark-Edison, N.Y./N.J./Pa.; Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, Ill./Ind./Wis.; Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas; Detroit-Warren-Livonia, Mich.; Houston-Baytown-Sugar Land, Texas; Cincinnati-Middletown, Ohio/Ky./Ind.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Pa./N.J./Del.; Memphis, Tenn./Miss./Ark.; and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, D.C./Va. and Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, Va. (tied for tenth).

In the second tier of metros, comprising those with populations between 200,000 and 1 million, the top performers, in order, were Dayton, Ohio; Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, Pa.; Baton Rouge, La.; Grand Rapids-Wyoming, Mich.; Holland-Grand Haven, Mich.; a sixth-place tie between Ann Arbor, Mich., and Lansing-East Lansing, Mich.; Omaha-Council Bluffs, Neb./Iowa, and Fort Wayne, Ind. (tied for eighth); and Lancaster, Pa.

Tier Three, comprising metros with populations between 50,000 and 200,000, was led by Elkhart-Goshen, Ind.; Sioux City, Iowa/Neb./S.D.; Altoona, Pa., and Winchester, Va./W.V. (tied for third); Battle Creek, Mich.; a four-way tie for sixth between Lebanon, Pa., Jackson, Tenn., Danville, Va., and Morristown, Tenn.; and a tie for tenth place between Monroe, La., and Monroe, Mich.

In the magazine’s ranking of Top Micropolitans — cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people which cover at least one county — Statesville-Mooresville, N.C., claimed the top prize among the nation’s 576 micropolitan areas, followed by Wooster, Ohio, and Pottsville, Pa. (tied for second); Daphne-Fairhope, Ala., and Lincolnton, N.C. (tied for fourth).

All of the above stories are posted at the magazine’s award-winning Web site, www.siteselection.com.

(Charts for 2009 New Plant tallies are below.)