News and Events

ONEIL: One of Miamisburg’s Biggest Success Stories!

Wednesday, July 10, 2019

ONEIL is one of Montgomery County’s local success stories. In operation for over 70 years, ONEIL is an industry leader in technical documentation and product support. Located in Miamisburg, this employee-owned company was founded in 1947 by Larry O’Neil, an engineer. Throughout the years, the company has doubled in size. Since opening, ONEIL has specialized in technical documentation writing. With clients in the aerospace, defense, and commercial sectors, ONEIL creates customized technical, service, and repair manuals for their clients. This covers every aspect of use and services for the client’s product. The ONEIL team disassembles each product completely and then puts it bac...

Crocs Brings Major Distribution Center to Ohio, Creates 130+ Jobs

Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Infrastructure and proximity to customers influence relocation from California to the Midwest Why Ohio? Crocs will relocate its North American distribution operation to a site near the Dayton International Airport in Dayton, Ohio. Crocs will lease a NorthPoint Development building that covers 540,000 square feet. The new operation will give Crocs the ability to serve about 80 percent of its customers within the four days’ shipping service of the company’s “free economy shipping.” The company performed an initial search on its own, and the Dayton region as well as the state of Ohio came out on top. Dayton has a great infrastructure an...

‘Magnet for high tech:’ How research drives Wright-Patt’s $15.5B impact

Monday, April 29, 2019

Local businesses, universities and hospitals benefit from military expertise. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is the Dayton region’s largest employer, an economic powerhouse integral to national defense that also attracts a trove of intellectual capital and expertise in high-tech research and development. That work is done on base, at local companies and in labs at colleges and universities. It not only provides well-paying jobs to local residents, it’s a selling point to lure new businesses and jobs. Read full article.

Dayton college partners with NC university on drone research, training

Friday, April 26, 2019

Sinclair Community College has a new partnership with a North Carolina university for Unmanned Aerial Systems research. Sinclair's National UAS Training and Certification Center announces it will enhance its training and applied research through the partnership with Elizabeth City State University. Read full article.

Ohio’s Workforce Supply Tool

Thursday, April 25, 2019

The State of Ohio’s Workforce Supply Tool provides employers and job seekers important and actionable information about more than 200 of the most in-demand occupations in Ohio. The tool includes: Statewide and regional workforce supply information Historical and future estimates on the number of graduates from programs offering credentials or degrees in in-demand areas Institutions that offer credentials or degrees in in-demand areas Regional earnings by occupation Regional employment numbers for each occupation Read full newsletter.

Tech Firm’s Massive Dayton-Area Expansion Larger than Expected

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

A software development company that is expanding its Dayton-area facility and creating hundreds of new jobs has confirmed its plans and offered new details on the project. Plano, Texas-based Tyler Technologies Inc. is adding 45,000 square feet to its Moraine office, bringing the building’s total square footage to 85,000 SF. This is 5,000 square feet more than the company initially reported when it filed for a Montgomery County Economic Development/Government Equity grant in November. The total cost of the project was listed at $8 million in the funding application. The additional space will accommodate future growth expected within Tyler’s Appraisal and Tax Division, whic...

Ohio’s Advancing the Future of Smart Mobility

Monday, April 22, 2019

Investments in a smart mobility ecosystem put Ohio in the driver’s seat for developing automated vehicles and related technology. Read full publication.

Woodworking business buys Mound site for $588K

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

A woodworking company has bought an industrial building at the Mound Business Park, the park said after an inquiry from this news outlet. The Woodworking Shop, LLC has operated at 1195 Mound Road at Mound Business Park since 2015. It just bought the building for $588,382, local property records showed recently. Read full article.

Governor’s Cup/2018 Results

Friday, April 05, 2019

2018 Results a Testament to Ohio’s Team It takes a team to achieve the results Ohio reached in 2018 and the Governor’s Cup rankings are a testament to that. Site Selection released its annual Governor’s Cup rankings, and Ohio earned the No. 2 spot for total qualified projects in 2018 for the fifth consecutive year and placed third in qualified projects per capita. The recognition makes Ohio, for the third consecutive year, the only state to place in the top three of both categories. Ohio’s micropolitans once again provided big opportunities for businesses, earning 17 spots in the Top 100 Micropolitans. With 2...

Crews break ground on new amphitheater in Vandalia

Wednesday, April 03, 2019

VANDALIA, Ohio - A new amphitheater is expected to open up in Vandalia in a year or two. Crews broke ground on the project at Vandalia's Art Park, which is on Alkaline Springs Road across from Butler High School. Read full article.

Local Manufacturers Team With Area Youth For Xtreme STEM Robotic Challenges

Tuesday, April 02, 2019

Several local manufacturers are once again partnering with area youth for an event aimed at lighting the fires of ingenuity in those young people and get them interested in STEM sciences and skilled trades. The program, called Xtreme STEM, was founded by Steve Staub with Staub Manufacturing Solutions in Dayton and several other local companies. Read full article.

Technology Employment Expands its Presence in Ohio's Workforce

Monday, April 01, 2019

More than 9,200 new jobs in 2018 coupled with growing economic impact, according to CompTIA Cyberstates 2019™ report COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Technology-related employment in Ohio grew by more than 9,200 new jobs in 2018 and the tech sector increased its contribution to the state's economy, according to Cyberstates 2019™, the definitive guide to national, state and metropolitan area tech sector and tech workforce analytics published annually by CompTIA, the leading technology industry association. Net tech employment grew by an estimated 9,248 jobs in 2018.1 Since 2010 net tech employment has grown by nearly 62,000 new jobs. Tech accounts for approximately 7 percent of the Ohio workforce. The median tech occupatio...

Uber-like valet parking may come to Dayton’s Fire Blocks District

Thursday, March 28, 2019

A new service is planned for the Fire Blocks District that allows drivers to get valet parking with a press of a button on their smartphones. Cincinnati-based Divine Services Corp.offers an on-demand valet service that allows customers to drop off and pick up their vehicles anywhere within defined service areas using an app on their smartphones. The company currently operates in downtown Cincinnati but plans to bring its “groundbreaking” mobile app technology to the Fire Blocks District, said Sukhmanjit Singh, vice president and general manager of the company. Read full article.

Looking to the future: the Dayton Arcade is welcoming new tenants

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

DAYTON, Ohio - The biggest gem in the gem city is slowly coming back to life. Nearly two decades later, Dayton city manager, Shelley Dickstein, said a financial closing on the Dayton Arcade is coming. “It’s a really complex project,” said Dickstein. “When you walk into that rotunda, there’s a reason people don’t build buildings like that anymore. They are incredibly expensive to operate and maintain.” A path forward is now laid for what legislative actions city commissioners need to take so developers can access financial tools. Read full article.

Innovate Ohio Looks to Modernize Public Services

Tuesday, March 26, 2019

The new organization in the Buckeye State, led by Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, aims to improve data sharing and the use of blockchain, among other initiatives. Ohio is a state steeped in history and is the birthplace of eight U.S. presidents. However, newly elected Gov. Mike DeWine wants to bring state government into the future — or at least the modern day. One of DeWine’s new initiatives, which he promoted last year on the campaign trail, is called Innovate Ohio, an effort designed to modernize state services. While the program is still being developed, early indications are that it will focus on using data t...

Modern Farmers Go From Rockers To Roots

Monday, March 25, 2019

Ohio has a long and rich farming history, but today less than a third of the state's farms remain. Every year 10 percent of small farms disappear. The climate change and political tariffs have made it harder for farmers to grow and sell crops and smaller farms can no longer compete against giant agribusinesses. The average age of a today’s farmer is 59, and the industry is having a hard time attracting new, younger people. Melissa Alexander has one piece of advice for young farmers just starting out, "Farming looks romantic. It really does. It’s beautiful. It’s seducing. But when you ge...

Letter: JobsOhio’s model, team are boon for state

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

I respond to the excellent Dispatch editorial “Winning isn’t everything when Ohio is still second.” I agree that JobsOhio had a “banner year” in 2018, as evidenced by 266 job-creation projects that will yield 27,071 new jobs and $1.3 billion in payroll. I also second the opinion that JobsOhio’s success can be witnessed not only in Ohio’s wins, but in the state’s ability to compete for projects such as Amazon, Apple and others. Ten years ago, Ohio wouldn’t have been in the conversation for developments like these. Having spent more than 25 years in the public-policy arena, I have seen every stat...

JobsOhio’s Five-Year Aspirations (2019-2023)

Thursday, March 14, 2019

Independent performance assessment guides JobsOhio strategy In order to continue offering best-in-class service to companies, JobsOhio dedicated a portion of 2018 looking inward at its performance since 2013, highlighting where its model is working while looking for opportunities to chart further progress over the next five years. As part of this analysis, JobsOhio hired McKinsey & Company to conduct an independent performance assessment (IPA) of its performance and operating model, which was published in June 2018. The IPA posed strategic questions that JobsOhio should address, specifically: What larger investments can offset some of the headwinds facing Ohio’s economy? What strategic initiatives (within target industries an...

Venture Capital Firms Invested in Ohio at Record Levels in 2018

Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Ohio leads the Midwest in attracting growth capital Some of the best-known early companies, such as IBM, Genentech, Apple and Intel, were backed by venture capital (VC). What has changed since then? In a word: everything. As an industry, VC firms have gone from providing a few million dollars in funding per year in the 1960s, to funding over 8,900 deals worth more than $130 billion in 2018, according to Pitchbook/National Venture Capital Association data. VC firms still invest the largest share of their funds in technology and biotech firms. However, the funding shift within technology is dramatic – from mostly hardwar...

Compete internationally in “Swarm and Search AI Challenge”

Friday, March 08, 2019

A collaborative challenge between the Wright Brothers Institute, the Air Force Research Lab and the United Kingdom Defence Science and Technology Laboratory will explore new, efficient and resilient ways to plan complex drone search and rescue missions. The “Swarm and Search AI Challenge: 2019 Fire Hack” will feature concurrent challenges in the US & UK, with a final showdown March 29-31 between the top 10 teams from each country. The top three winning teams from each country will receive cash prizes and learn about upcoming funding opportunities. The highest scoring solution will be showcased at the 2019 AUVSI Conference and the U...

Centerville Police launching operation 'Home Shield' for deployed military members

Wednesday, March 06, 2019

CENTERVILLE, Ohio (WKEF/WRGT) - Centerville Police is launching a new initiative called operation "Home Shield," to assist families of Centerville residents who are in the military. Police say the program is voluntary and will assist families of military members who live in Centerville and are deployed. Read full article.

City leaders react as the Kettering Tower sells for $13M

Monday, March 04, 2019

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - Downtown Dayton's tallest high-rise has officially been sold. Locally-owned company, Stratacache bought the Kettering Tower for $13 million. Dayton's city manager Shelley Dickstein said the sale is a good sign for downtown's continued efforts to revitalize the area. Read full article.

Miami Valley filmmakers win big at Sundance Film Festival

Friday, March 01, 2019

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – Some Miami Valley residents were recently in the spotlight at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah. Filmmakers Julia Reichert and Steve Bognar were there for the premiere of their new documentary, “American Factory.” The film is a follow-up to their Oscar-nominated film “The Last Truck,” which is about the closure of the GM plant in Moraine. The new documentary focuses on how Fuyao brought the plant back to life and the fight to make it a union facility. The filmmakers picked up the award for U.S. Documentary Directing. Bognar joined 2 NEWS to discuss the film, his experiences at Sundance...

Award-winning chef and BBQ entrepreneur is our Daytonian of the Week

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Chris Cavender has a restaurant resume that sounds more like a “Who’s Who” directory of local eateries. Among his stints: Cavender served as the former executive chef at Jay's Restaurant in Dayton and Sycamore Country Club in Miamisburg and the co-founder of 1572 Roadhouse Bar-B-Q restaurant near Waynesville. But it’s his role as a barbecue entrepreneur as founder of UrbanQ Smokehouse specialty food products that has been showering Cavender with accolades most recently. His UrbanQ Smokehouse Bayou Classic Creole Q Sauce was named the No. 1 “Cooking Sauce” in the 2019 Fiery Food Challenge ZestFest. And his Smokehouse Blues sauce earned third place in Fruit-Based Barbecue Sauce categor...

Grant Funds Available for Community Beautification

Tuesday, February 26, 2019

The Montgomery County Solid Waste District, a division of Montgomery County Environmental Services, is now accepting applications for the 2019 Beautification Grant program to promote volunteerism and community beautification in Montgomery County. The grants are offered through Keep Montgomery County Beautiful (KMCB). KMCB funds up to $1,000 per project, and graffiti abatement and community garden projects are eligible for funding. KMCB funded 25 projects in 2018. The grant application rating criteria include the use of native and drought-tolerant plants, maintenance and sustainability, and community and volunteer involvement. Youth involvement is highly encouraged. Further rating criteria is outlined in the grant application. For mor...

FALON DONOHUE FROM VENTUREOHIO TALKS THE UNTAPPED RESOURCES IN THE MIDWEST

Monday, February 25, 2019

In this episode, we get to chat with Falon Donohue about all things entrepreneurial in the Midwest. Falon is a community organizer, veteran and the Chief Executive Officer of VentureOhio, a for-impact organization created to facilitate a collaborative statewide entrepreneurial ecosystem and increase access to angel and venture capital for Ohio entrepreneurs. Read full article.

Best States for Female Entrepreneurs 2019—Definitive Ranking of All 50 States

Friday, February 22, 2019

While the old saying “It’s a man’s world” is passé, there’s still evidence men have the upper hand in business—particularly the startup world. Women-owned startups face significant social and economic challenges, resulting in a remarkable disparity between male and female-launched businesses. Read full article.

The Answers to Four Questions Determine if Your Region Behind in the Opportunity Zone Battle

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Maybe it is a silly question since the ink on the IRS regulations are not dry, nor are they even written in ink, but economic development, elected officials and real estate developers are asking the question—is our region already behind in attracting capital for Opportunity Zones? The answer to four questions determines if your region is behind in this critical economic development opportunity. Read full article.

Site Development Strategy Key to Early Opportunity Zone Success

Monday, February 18, 2019

Marketing helps, but a fancy website cannot replace a strong site development plan that illustrates an Opportunity Zone is prepared for development. Creating an Opportunity Zone site development plan involves five steps that includes the creation of site plans and infrastructure finance strategies, enacting land use entitlements and tax incentives, advocating for a state and local Opportunity Zone public policy agenda, marketing the Opportunity Zone and seeking professional guidance to operate an Opportunity Zone by seeking investors. Read full article.

How Montgomery County ED/GE funding drives economic development

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

In the Dayton region, one of the most significant drivers of economic development is the Montgomery County ED/GE program. ED/GE, which stands for economic development and government equity, was founded in the early 1990s as a new tool to make the county more competitive and enhance cooperation among local jurisdictions. It has been renewed twice since then, surviving an economic downturn that caused many other non-essential programs to fall by the wayside. Another 10-year renewal is expected to be approved at the end of this year. In 2018, the ED/GE program funded 15 projects that totaled $254.3 million in investment, including 1,27...

Montgomery County Participated in a Successful Trade Mission to Japan

Saturday, February 09, 2019

Montgomery County’s Erik Collins, Director of Community & Economic Development, and Gwen Eberly, Economic Development and Planning Manager, recently spent nine days visiting 33 companies in Japan. This important trade mission was focused on furthering relationships with the Japanese companies who call Ohio home. Many of these companies have been in Ohio for decades and have recently expanded or are considering future expansions. Collins and Eberly visited with executives of Green Tokai, Co., a Japanese auto parts manufacturer who has been in the City of Brookville for nearly 30 years. With more than 600 employees, they are a committed partne...

Part of Dayton Wright Brothers Airport re-zoned for mixed use

Monday, February 04, 2019

MIAMI TWP, Ohio (WKEF/WRGT) - The Miami Township Board of Trustees signed off on a plan to re-zone 321 acres of the Dayton Wright Brothers Airport for mixed used. The trustees voted unanimously to change the land from only operating as an airport district. Read full article.

Remodeled shopping center adds tenants

Friday, February 01, 2019

A previously vacant strip mall on Upper Valley Pike is showing new signs of life after a small number of local businesses — including a screen printing shop and an arcade facility — have moved into the shopping center. Read full article.

Ohio’s Greatest Asset Can Be Yours Too

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

To compete successfully around the globe, companies must have access to top-level talent. Ohio’s world-class universities, community colleges and trade schools, workforce training programs, partnerships and apprenticeship strategies complement the Midwest work ethic of Ohioans. The result is a workforce that is educated, committed, skilled and productive, and able to meet the needs of a variety of employers, including advanced manufacturers, financial services firms and healthcare providers. Ohio’s talent pipeline meets the demands of today and is prepared for the needs of the future. Read more.

Ohio New Americans Office Focuses on Workforce Issues

Monday, January 28, 2019

Ohio’s economy is strong. Since 2011, 557,600 new private-sector jobs have been created in Ohio, and since the start of this year, Ohio private-sector jobs are growing 39 percent faster than those in the nation as a whole. To maintain its momentum, however, Ohio’s economy requires a workforce of hard-working and highly skilled individuals. Ohio’s Office of Opportunities for New Americans, created earlier this year by Governor John R. Kasich, is working to make Ohio a more welcoming state in order to attract the workers – and better prepare the existing ones – who will fuel Ohio’s economic engine for year...

The Answers to Four Questions Determine if Your Region is Behind in the Opportunity Zone Battle

Friday, January 25, 2019

Maybe it is a silly question since the ink on the IRS regulations are not dry, nor are they even written in ink, but economic development elected officials and real estate developers are asking the question—is our region already behind in attracting capital for Opportunity Zones? The answer to four questions determines if your region is behind in this critical economic development opportunity. Read full article.

Site Development Strategy Key to Early Opportunity Zone Success

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Marketing helps but a fancy web site cannot replace a strong site development plan that illustrates an Opportunity Zone is prepared for development. Creating an Opportunity Zone site development plan involves five steps that includes the creation of site plans and infrastructure finance strategies, enacting land use entitlements and tax incentives, advocating for a state and local Opportunity Zone public policy agenda, marketing the Opportunity Zone and seeking professional guidance to operate an Opportunity Zone by seeking investors. Read full article.

Montgomery County's Job Training & Urban Garden Enhancement Program Receives State Award

Friday, July 27, 2018

Dayton, Ohio (July 26, 2018) – Montgomery County’s “Trucks and Tomatoes” Job Training and Urban Garden Enhancement Project is the recipient of the 2018 President’s Award for Innovative Practices by the Ohio Conference on Community Development. The “Trucks and Tomatoes” Project is the result of a partnership between Montgomery County, the Dayton Foodbank, Butler Technology and Career Development Schools, and Central State University (CSU), with support from private sector trucking companies. Like many communities, Montgomery County faces a shortage of Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) drivers. The County Commissioners recognized that need, identified partners, established a plan and found other benefits, as well. “The Trucks an...

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