Ohio capable of growing the most innovative, in-demand companies | Opinion
Economic growth is a team sport. Every day, the JobsOhio team and our partners at REDI Cincinnati actively engage with business leaders, discussing what they need to tackle today's challenges and maintain robust and sustainable growth into the future.
No matter the industry, we have consistently heard that companies want capable individuals who can step into open jobs right now, a pipeline of young talent to take over down the road, a convenient location to reach their customers, and an environment where doing business doesn't cost a fortune.
In mid-October, I had the opportunity to tour around Southwest Ohio with our REDI Cincinnati network partners, during which Kimm Lauterbach and her team showed us first-hand why businesses are thriving in Ohio.
Our first stop was in Fairfield, where we visited the headquarters of Trew, an automated materials handling solutions provider. Trew was formed in January 2019, building on the success of two innovative and well-known companies: Hilmot and Tech King Operations.
By the end of 2019, Trew's operations in Mason, Ohio, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, were busting at the seams from the rapid growth. To make room for this accelerated expansion, Trew made the strategic decision to move to a new facility in Fairfield. This move allowed their engineering, software, support, part fulfillment, and manufacturing operations to flourish.
With Ohio's more than 600,000 skilled individuals, the third-largest manufacturing workforce in the U.S., and more than 13,000 engineers and engineering technicians graduating from over 50 campuses across the state annually, Ohio's manufacturing talent pipeline leads the charge. Additionally, Ohio's integrated transportation infrastructure allows manufacturers in Ohio to reach customers and suppliers quickly and affordably.
The location of Trew’s headquarters is in the heart of this engineering talent pool and within easy reach of retail and e-commerce distribution centers, offering an environment that can support its high-speed sortation and software capability needs and meet its rising demand.
For Trew, the journey of growth and innovation continues. Earlier this year, Trew announced plans for a new technology center to fuel material-handling solution innovation and add at least 75 new engineering jobs, powered by a $4 million R&D Grant from JobsOhio.
Visiting Trew's headquarters, I saw the impact the JobsOhio R&D Grant will have on accelerating developments in automation technologies, warehouse execution software, and creating a demonstration, testing, and training facility. It is remarkable how these innovations will transform Trew's customer operations and drive the company's continued expansion.
Ohio's story, as seen with Trew, is one of partnership and collaboration. Trew worked with several state and local partners, including JobsOhio, the Ohio Department of Development, and REDI Cincinnati, to secure assistance for its latest bold endeavor.
Trew chose Ohio for its technology center and headquarters, not by happenchance; it was driven by the availability of information technology, engineering talent, accessibility to a diverse customer base with retail and e-commerce distribution centers, and the eagerness of economic development organizations to help businesses grow.
Trew proves how invested Ohio is in every company's success. We support businesses' bottom lines because their success is integral to our own, as they contribute to our state's economy through creating and retaining jobs and fostering vibrant communities.
J.P. Nauseef is president and CEO of JobsOhio.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Helping businesses succeed key to Ohio's growth
