The document provides an economic update for the Columbus region in September 2012. It summarizes economic data such as the number of business projects, visits by companies considering locating in the region, and unemployment rates in counties in the region. Specific examples are given of companies that expanded or planned new facilities locally, such as Stella & Dot, Ascena Retail Group, and Acclaimd. Planned business development activities for upcoming months are also outlined.

1. MONTHLY ECONOMIC UPDATE | SEPTEMBER 2012

2. COLUMBUS 2020 MONTHLY UPDATE | SEPTEMBER 2012
PROJECTS SEPTEMBER 2012 AND YEAR-TO-DATE
SEPTEMBER 2012 & YTD PERFORMANCE NUMBER OF PROJECTS (2012 v. 2011) FIRST-TIME VISITS (2012 v. 2011)
September 2012 15
50
20 Projects (196 YTD) 12
37 12
3 First Time Visits (53 YTD) 40
9
27 9 8 8
30 25 7 7 7
22 21 20 6 6
Year to Date 18 18 16 19
20 17 6 5
Through September 2012, Columbus 2020 had 196 12 14 12 13 4 4 4
9 11 11 9 9 10 3 3 3
projects started year to date, 75 percent higher than the 10 3 2 2 2 2
2011 pace. There were also 53 first-time visits to the 0
0 0
Columbus Region by companies year to date through Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
August, 43 percent higher than the 2011 pace. 2011 2012 2011 2012
CASE STUDY: STELLA & DOT
Stella & Dot is a San Francisco-based social selling
company of boutique-style jewelry and accessories. The
company ranked no. 57 in the latest Inc. 5000 list of fast
growing companies, having seen annual revenues rise from
$4 million in 2008 to $175 million in 2011. Products are sold Jobs: 100+
exclusively through in-home trunk shows by independent Facility: Distribution and customer
stylists. service center (180,000 sf)
After a multi-state search, Stella & Dot selected the
Columbus Region for its first independently managed
distribution and customer service center. The company
signed a lease for over 180,000 square feet in Groveport.
Within three years, the company anticipates the creation
of more than 100 jobs at an average wage of $16.50/hour.
Considerations for site selection included market access,
business environment, and workforce quality.
1

3. COLUMBUS 2020 MONTHLY UPDATE | SEPTEMBER 2012
ACTIVE PROJECTS AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2012
TOTAL ACTIVE PROJECTS EXPANSION PROJECTS: EXPANSION PROJECTS:
(147 PROJECTS) PROJECTS BY SOURCE PROJECTS BY INDUSTRY
35 30
30
19%
25 20
39% 20
19% 15
62%
61% 10
4 3
5
0
Columbus 2020
New Existing Local ED partners
JobsOhio
ATTRACTION PROJECTS: ATTRACTION PROJECTS: ATTRACTION PROJECTS: ATTRACTION PROJECTS:
SUSPECTS AND PROSPECTS PROJECTS BY SOURCE PROJECTS BY INDUSTRY DOMESTIC/INTERNATIONAL
70 68
50
60 43
45
50 40
40 25% 35
30 22 30 25 37%
25
20 3% 20
10 15 10 12 63%
72%
0 10
5
Suspect Prospect
0
Suspects = Projects identified and
qualified via direct dialogue with the Columbus 2020
company or consultant representing the Domestic International
Local ED partners
company.
JobsOhio
Prospects = Projects qualified,
parameters defined and the company or
consultant has visited the Region.
2

4. COLUMBUS 2020 MONTHLY UPDATE | SEPTEMBER 2012
BUSINESS ATTRACTION | DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
SEPTEMBER 2012 COMPLETED ACTIVITIES Northern California: The 2020 team visited the Bay Area and
Sacramento to meet with Fortune 1000 companies, location advisors,
and headquarters of companies with a Columbus Region operation.
Minneapolis: The 2020 international team attended the US Midwest
Japan Association Conference holding meetings to introduce
companies to the Columbus Region.
Chicago: The 2020 project management team conducted a market
visit in Chicago, meeting with four site selection consultants, one with
an active project in the Region.
Northeast: The 2020 business development team traveled to New
York City, northern New Jersey, and Philadelphia for six meetings
with location advisors.
China, The 2020 business development team conducted a mission to six cities in
China. The mission included meetings with companies, venture capital firms,
governments, and associations with an interest in investing in the U.S.
OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2012 PLANNED ACTIVITIES Omaha
IAMC Conference
Los Angeles
SIOR Fall World Conference
Houston
IEDC Annual Conference
Atlanta
International Air Cargo Conference
Chicago, Jacksonville
Area Development Forums
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MISSIONS:
Los Angeles, Denver, Salt Lake City, Dallas
INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES:
Columbus 2020 Japan & European Missions
3

5. COLUMBUS 2020 MONTHLY UPDATE | SEPTEMBER 2012
BUSINESS RETENTION & EXPANSION | SEPTEMBER 2012
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT VISITS CONDUCTED BY LOCATION VISITS CONDUCTED BY INDUSTRY
September 2012 Performance: 10 9 18 16
8 16
37 Visits in September (404 YTD)
8 7 14
12
6 5 10
9
Visits conducted by:
4 4 7
8
4 5
6
2 4
Columbus
27% 2020 only 2
41% 0 0
Local ED
partner only
Both 2020
32% and LEDO
CASE STUDY: ASCENA RETAIL GROUP
Ascena Retail Group, Inc., a national specialty retailer of
apparel for women and tween girls, will invest approximately
$74 million to expand its existing distribution center in Etna
Township and purchase additional machinery and other
equipment. The expansion will create an additional 225 jobs
-time positions. Jobs: 225 created, 300 retained
Capital investment: $74 million
Expansion was prompted by the need to consolidate the
company's brands - Justice, Lane Bryant, maurices, dressbarn Facility: Distribution center (expansion)
and Catherines - under one distribution center. After
considering some out-of-state options, Ascena chose to
expand the Licking County facility in light of the Columbus
Region's access to market, including the company's 3,800
retail store network.
4

6. COLUMBUS 2020 MONTHLY UPDATE | SEPTEMBER 2012
BUSINESS CREATION
NEW BUSINESS REGISTRATION* BUSINESS DISSOLUTIONS, PATENTS BY REGION INVENTORS &
SURRENDERS, WITHDRAWALS ASSIGNEES
1500 200 178 94
170
84
1,216 1,210 160 141 146 76
1250 1,155
58
1,018 120
1000
80
23 24 25 26
750
40
500 0
May Jun Jul Aug May Jun Jul Aug Inventor Assignee
May Jun Jul Aug
Source: Ohio Secretary of State Source: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
*Note: Registrations are only an indicator of business formation and do not represent actual new businesses. For example, a registration may be filed to
reserve a business name or for other reasons in advance of a potential business. Dissolutions, surrenders and withdrawals do not include mergers,
consolidations, reinstatements and other changes that may lead to a loss of a business. In addition, not all businesses that close make a filing.
CASE STUDY: ACCLAIMD
Columbus-based startup Acclaimd introduced its new web-based
referral management solution during the 10-xelerator (10X) New
Venture Showcase in September. Acclaimd makes it easy for
businesses to manage their referral programs online with a
powerful recommendation engine, built-in referral tracking, and a
notification center. These tools help increase the quality and
volume of referrals, while lowering administrative costs.
Acclaimd is one of eight startups to participate in the most
recent
Ohio New Entrepreneurs (ONE) Fund. The 10X program focuses
on providing money, mentors, and markets for selected
technology entrepreneurs.
5

7. COLUMBUS 2020 MONTHLY UPDATE | SEPTEMBER 2012
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEWS
COLUMBUS IN THE NEWS WORKFORCE INFRASTRUCTURE
Columbus no. 7 strongest job market in the U.S. Ohio Energy Pathways. Highway improvements fast-tracked. On September
Among 102 major metropolitan areas, Columbus finished no. to better align education and training resources with 27, the Ohio Department of Transportation decided
7 in On Numbers Economic Index. employer needs, the Ohio Board of Regents has launched to prioritize and accelerate five highway projects
http://bit.ly/QdK2P4 OhioEnergyPathways.org. The new website will connect across the state. Among these are improvement of
Ohioans seeking education and jobs in the energy the I-270/Route 23 interchanges and reconstruction
Central Ohio exports up 22 percent from last year industry with specific job training and employment of I-70 overpasses at Mound and 18th streets.
Federal data shows Columbus metro area exports grew from opportunities that meet their needs and interests.
The I-270/Rt. 23 improvement is key to
$3.6 billion in 2010 to $4.3 billion in 2011.
Featured content areas include advanced energy, accommodating economic and population growth in
http://bit.ly/VxUyBl
renewable energy, energy efficiency, and oil and gas. The northern Franklin and Delaware counties. I-70 is an
web site contains information on each of these industries important logistics corridor for the movement of
Columbus no. 4 in new logistics projects
and also connects with state resources such as goods into and out of the Columbus Region's
From January 1, 2011 to May 31, 2012, Columbus ranked no. 4
OhioMeansJobs.com and Ohio Internships & Co-ops. distribution centers.
among U.S. metros in number of logistics projects.
http://bit.ly/NMP4Sy
Columbus no. 3 in fashion design talent
Columbus has the third highest concentration of fashion
designers among U.S. metro areas behind only NYC and L.A.
http://bit.ly/RX7Vaa
6

8. COLUMBUS 2020 MONTHLY UPDATE | SEPTEMBER 2012
REGIONAL ECONOMIC DATA
NUMBER EMPLOYED AND UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (AUGUST 2012) NUMBER OF WEEKLY UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS
(WEEK ENDING 7/7/12 TO WEEK ENDING 9/29/12)
Continuing New
Unemployment Change from
Aug. 2011 to 14,000 1,800
rate
(Aug. 2012) Aug. 2012 1,600
13,000 1,400
7.8% (-2.1) 7.2% (-2.1)
1,200
Marion Morrow 12,000
15,831 (+398) 1,000
26,857 (-279)
800
11,000
7.1% (-3.2) 7.1% (-2.3) 600
Logan Knox 400
10,000
20,612 (+52) 5.1% (-1.3) 26,880 (+410) 200
Delaware
5.6% (-2.0) 9,000 0
88,680 (+2,174)
9/1
9/8
9/15
8/18
9/22
9/29
8/4
8/11
8/25
7/7
7/14
7/21
7/28
Union
25,307 (+622)
Number
employed 6.6% (-2.0) Source: Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
residents Licking
(Aug. 2012) 6.2% (-1.7) 79,020 (+1,947)
Franklin
580,713 (+14,027)
6.4% (-1.2)
Madison
18,755 (+457) COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE HOUSING SALES
6.4% (-2.0) (AS OF SEPTEMBER 30)
Fairfield
$179K
7.7% (-2.1) 69,850 (+1,700) $168K
Direct Asking 3,073 3,096 2,978
Pickaway
Use Vacancy Rate Rent
22,457 (+543)
(per sf) 2,326
1,934 2,072
Office 16.2% $14.90
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment
Statistic, Seasonally Adjusted Industrial 8.7% $2.95
New In Closed Average
Listings Contracts Sales Sales Price
Retail 10.2% $9.57
Aug 2011 Aug 2012
Source: Xceligent Source: Columbus Board of Realtors
7