DAYTON METRO SECOND IN SITE SELECTION MAGAZINE’S GOVERNOR’S CUP

March 01, 2024

RANKING MARKS 18 STRAIGHT YEARS IN THE TOP 10 AMONG CITIES OF ITS SIZE

DAYTON, Ohio – Site Selection magazine announced Friday the Dayton-Kettering Metro Area placed second among cities of its size for economic development projects in its annual Governor’s Cup rankings, marking the 18th consecutive year the region has ranked in the top 10 and the sixth year it has placed second.

“There is no better time to be in the Dayton Region,” said Jeff Hoagland, President and CEO of the Dayton Development Coalition. “2023 marked our third year of record-breaking growth and we have proven what our region can do. We have the industry, education, and talent to fuel growth. If you like great people, abundant resources, a central location, and a winning game plan, come join us in Dayton.”

Site Selection ranks cities and states each year based on the number of economic development projects in their region. Projects factored into the rankings include those with any combination of state, regional and local incentives, as well as those that do not receive any type of assistance. This year’s results indicate a strong state and regional business climate.
“Each year for nearly two decades, Site Selection Magazine recognizes Montgomery County and the Dayton Region as one of the top 10 places to establish or grow a business,” said Montgomery County Commission President Debbie Lieberman. “We’re blessed with a dedicated team of economic development professionals working to leverage our region’s excellent and affordable quality of life and strong business climate into new jobs and opportunities for our residents.”

In 2023, the Dayton Region celebrated the historic announcement that Joby Aviation will build an electric air taxi manufacturing facility in the region, creating 2,000 new jobs, marking a return to aircraft manufacturing for the first time in a century. Additional projects in the region included Resonant Sciences, Diné Development Corporation, Technicote, Midmark, and Apogee Engineering.

"Announcing we'll build our first scaled manufacturing facility in Dayton is a huge win for Joby and we hope to have a very positive impact on the local economy,” Joby’s President of Aircraft OEM Didier Papadopoulos said. “The spirit of collaboration amongst the Ohio team as we made our decision was phenomenal and they consistently solved for the challenges we faced. This was a highly competitive decision and the Dayton team never let go. The town was home to America's first aircraft factory and we're looking forward to bringing the next generation of aerospace manufacturing here."

Ohio ranked third among all states for total projects and was fifth in the nation for projects per capita. Ohio has placed in the top three for more than 10 years, cementing the state’s role as a leader in job creation and business expansion. The state’s economic development efforts are led by JobsOhio, a private non-profit. The DDC is one of JobsOhio’s six regional network partners.

“This is an exciting time to be in Dayton with significant meaningful growth and new opportunities ahead. SNC chose to expand in Dayton with our Aviation & Innovation Technology Center (AITC) because of the region’s infrastructure, quality workforce and proximity to key customers,” said Jon Piatt, executive vice president of SNC’s IAS business area. “At SNC, our mission is to be an active partner with our customers to safeguard freedom and we do that by delivering leading technologies and mission system solutions to the quality and schedule they expect. Dayton was a natural fit for us to build SNC’s AITC as the next generation of aircraft mission and modernization center of excellence for all of the Department of Defense programs, and we are especially honored to do this while also supporting meaningful job growth and prosperity in the region.”

The Atlanta-based magazine has awarded the Governor’s Cup annually since 1988, based on new and expanded corporate facilities as tracked by the proprietary Conway Projects Database. The DDC works with local economic development officials and JobsOhio to provide information on regional expansion projects to use for the rankings.

“The Dayton area is flourishing as a key hub for innovation, technology, healthcare, and manufacturing,” said Greene County Board of Commissioners President Richard Gould. “Hosting Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton benefits from prestigious institutions like AFMC, AFRL, and NASIC, along with numerous contractors that bolster these missions and the exceptional talent driving these organizations and businesses. The local entrepreneurial spirit is vibrant, consistently fostering new ventures. Supported by JobsOhio and the DDC, Dayton has effectively highlighted its assets and charm on both a national and global stage.”

In 2023, companies committed to create more than 5,200 new jobs and keep more than 5,800 jobs in the region. About a third of the 39 projects were defense contractors establishing new operations or expanding in our community. Those projects will generate more than $383 million in new payroll and $1 billion in capital investment. The numbers represent companies that worked with the DDC and JobsOhio to expand or establish new operations in the region.

“The Dayton Region is stronger than ever when it comes to economic growth. All of our decisions as Miami County Commissioners are driven by the mission to improve the already exemplary quality of life of Miami County residents,” said Miami County Commissioner Gregory Simmons. “Our work is also inspired by the fact that we know our success as a County contributes directly to the success of the region. We are grateful for the thousands of businesses that call our region home. Those businesses and their workforce deserve a vibrant, safe, and enjoyable region. The elected officials, community leaders, and business leaders are more unified in achieving that goal than any region in the State.”

The Dayton Region saw several communities earn spots on the magazine’s list for Top 100 Micropolitans, including Sidney in fourth place and Greenville in seventh. Ohio had the most micropolitans in the top 100, with 15 communities making the list.
“Economic Development has been a team effort for decades, and the Dayton Region’s consistent positive results reflect this hard work and collaboration,” said JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef. “For 18 consecutive years, Dayton-Kettering has been ranked in the top ten for tier-two metros while other local communities continue to attract more jobs and investment across sector lines that positively impact the region’s economic diversity.”

Learn more about the DDC’s record year: https://daytonregion.com/ddc/blog/2023-annual-meeting-economic-review
Please note: Site Selection looks at projects inside the Dayton-Kettering Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Montgomery, Greene, and Miami counties.