JobsOhio points to record year in ‘nearly all metrics’

29,000-plus new jobs are expected to be created from projects announced last year.

Credit: Bill Lackey

Credit: Bill Lackey

Attracting total capital investment to the state of nearly $7 billion, JobsOhio said in its new annual report that it enjoyed a record-setting year in 2021.

“In 2021, JobsOhio had a record year in nearly every metric, while working on the deal with Intel, the largest economic development project in Ohio’s history,” the corporation said in the report issued Thursday. “As we enter a new year, we continue to build on the momentum of 2021 as we strive to make the most of Ohio’s generational opportunity.”

The state’s private development arm points to 29,104 new jobs created, or expected to be created, from pledges of projects announced last year, the report says.

That new jobs annual payroll reaches $1.6 billion, while the number of existing jobs “retained” or protected in 2021 — 75,416 — has an annual payroll of $4.5 billion, according to state data.

While the Intel announcement has been a feather in the state’s cap, the computer chip maker has delayed the groundbreaking of its planned Columbus-area plants indefinitely. Company leaders have cited a failure in Congress to pass the CHIPS Act, a bill which features industry subsidies of up to $52 billion.

The ceremony for the project had been set for July 22. Crucially, Intel said it still plans to build the facility and has not pushed back the start of construction.

“Everyone saw our announcement of our delay and it is a huge signal to the industry, to get the shovels in the ground and (get) the U.S. serious about building this industry back on U.S. soil,” Pat Gelsinger, Intel chief executive, told CNBC this week. “It’s game time. Get it done before August.”

Intel’s Ohio investment could reach $100 million total in the years ahead, the state has said.

“We remained steadfast in our commitment to move at the speed of business to attract new jobs for Ohioans, marking a banner year for JobsOhio and tracking strong momentum going forward,” JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef said in a statement. “Intel has caught the attention of business leaders who didn’t consider choosing Ohio before this year, and we’re proving is a major competitor for attracting new business tech, advanced manufacturing, and other rapidly growing sectors that are looking to tap into our growing talent pool and strong business climate.”

In the Dayton-Springfield area, JobsOhio hailed the announcement by Gabe’s to build a 850,000-square-foot plant in Springfield, a distribution center the state says will be larger than all five of the company’s current facilities combined.

In that new facility, Gabe’s will be able to receive and process goods by February 2023.

JobsOhio also said coastal companies are increasingly seeing Ohio as a destination, pointing to announcements or plans by 34 companies, with nearly 7,400 jobs expected to be created, hitting an annual payroll of more than $388 million.

Not counted in 2021 metrics was a spring 2022 announcement by SEMCORP Advanced Materials Group to build a battery materials manufacturing plant in Sidney, creating an expected nearly 1,200 jobs there.

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