Global manufacturers are making moves. They're adjusting supply chains, chasing efficiency, and looking for certainty in a volatile landscape. As those decisions take shape, Columbus, Ohio, has cemented its position as one of the most strategically sound locations in North America.
Methodically, the Columbus Region has been shaping a platform manufacturers can rely upon: market access, workforce strength, innovation infrastructure, and a public-private culture that turns planning into performance.
That's why nearly half of the Columbus Region's manufacturing pipeline now comes from foreign-owned companies. That number reflects confidence earned through results.
Proximity That Pays Off
Columbus offers one of the most enviable positions on the U.S. map. From here, manufacturers can reach the highest concentration of the country's industrial and consumer base more efficiently than from any other major metro. In a market where lead time affects contracts and transportation costs can dictate margins, that level of access creates a meaningful advantage.
It also cuts carbon emissions, reduces inventory exposure, and helps companies respond faster to customer demand.
Talent That's Ready to Perform
Manufacturers entering the U.S. market need a workforce that meets high standards from day one and keeps pace as operations evolve. Columbus delivers both.
Columbus State Community College has become a national model for employer-driven training, delivering hands-on skills aligned with advanced manufacturing demands. The Ohio State University strengthens the talent base further, contributing engineers, technical leaders, and applied research partnerships that keep production sharp and future-focused. Altogether, there are 55 college, university, and technical school campuses across the region, each playing a role in preparing talent at scale.
Innovation With Traction
Advanced manufacturing thrives where ideas move quickly from concept to production. In the Columbus Region, automation, smart factory systems, and sustainability are fully embedded in the way companies operate.
Manufacturers are supported by a tech ecosystem that responds in real time, and by research institutions like Ohio State that contribute applied innovation and technical expertise. The region values precision, execution, and continuous improvement. Technology is deployed with intent and integrated directly into operations.
Policy That Enables Profitability
For global manufacturers, market entry is about more than location. It's about the full cost structure and regulatory landscape. Ohio offers a stable, low-friction environment with no corporate income tax on goods sold outside the state, and no tax on inventory, machinery, or equipment.
Ohio's tax structure reduces overhead and creates a stronger foundation for long-term profitability. That level of predictability gives companies confidence to commit capital and scale operations.
The Columbus Way: A Cultural Advantage
What international investors often notice first, beyond logistics and incentives, is how things get done here. In the Columbus Region, collaboration isn't a slogan. It's operational.
The public and private sectors are aligned. Government, higher education, business, and economic development leaders work from a shared playbook. This model, known locally as The Columbus Way, creates momentum that companies can feel. When global firms face workforce needs, infrastructure challenges, or permitting hurdles, they're met with solutions, not bureaucracy.
That environment shortens timelines, reduces uncertainty, and keeps expansion on track. It's a structural advantage that sets Columbus apart from more fragmented markets.
Built for Global Scale
Deborah Scherer, Senior Vice President, Global Trade & Investment, One Columbus at the Columbus Partnership
From Tokyo to Toronto, Milan to Seoul, the message is clear. Columbus is positioned to help companies succeed. The future of global production is already underway here.
If you're looking for a U.S. manufacturing base with speed, substance, and staying power, look to Columbus.
