The Regional Growth Partnership (RGP) recently released their annual report for 2016, showing significant growth in both jobs and investment in Northwest Ohio. The report described nearly $2 billion in capital investment with more than 4,300 new jobs created and 17,000+ retained.
RGP serves as the lead economic development organization in Northwest Ohio with a primary focus of attracting new jobs and capital investment to this region. With that, the RGP, in collaboration with its partners across Northwest Ohio, established record highs for the region in terms of jobs and investment last year.
Advanced Manufacturing generated more than 1,800 new jobs with $279 million of capital investment for the region in 2015. Major projects included First Solar (259 new jobs) and 20/20 Custom Molded plastics ($17 million investment).
The Energy industry is also growing rapidly with more than $940 million in capital investments last year. Renewable energy is a driving force in investment; the city of Clyde broke ground on a $5 million solar field and Whirlpool in Findlay broke ground on an $18 million wind farm.
Business is also booming on the international front. Northwest Ohio is currently home to 160 foreign-owned companies, employing more than 30,000 people. Foreign businesses invested $160 million in Northwest Ohio, creating 700 new jobs. Last year, RGP visited with consultants and companies in Germany, Japan, China, Canada. They also made two domestic trips with an international focus and assisted 40 regional companies with export efforts.
These are just a few highlights of the RGP report. View the full report
here.
