The document provides an economic update for the Columbus region in April 2013. It summarizes 23 new projects started in April and 86 year-to-date, with 4 first-time visits. Notable projects include Toyo System establishing its first US operations in Columbus, creating 8 jobs initially, and Safelite expanding its Columbus headquarters, creating 350 jobs and investing $48 million. Regional economic data shows declining unemployment and increasing employment across the region.
2. APRIL 2013 PERFORMANCE
CASE STUDY: TOYO SYSTEM
Jobs: 8 created
Facility: Sales office and technical testing
1
COLUMBUS 2020 MONTHLY UPDATE | APRIL 2013
PROJECTS APRIL 2013 AND YEAR-TO-DATE
NUMBER OF PROJECTS (2013 v. 2012) FIRST-TIME VISITS (2013 v. 2012)
APRIL 2013
23 projects started
- 86 year to date
4 first time visits 25
11
27 24
20
44
16
30
20
23
28
7
19
25
19
23
0
10
20
30
40
50
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2012 2013
11
6 6 6
9
4
3
6 6
10
4
22
5
3
4
0
3
6
9
12
15
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2012 2013
Toyo System of Iwaki, Japan has established its first U.S.
operations, Toyo System USA, in the Columbus Region.
Toyo will conduct sales and technical testing at its new
facility on Citygate Drive in the city of Columbus. The
company will initially hire up to 8 employees and add
personnel as the business grows.
Toyo System supplies rechargeable battery testing
equipment to manufacturers and users. The company
also provides testing services, R&D, and small production
scale battery manufacturing equipment. The operations
in Columbus will service companies in the electric vehicle,
energy storage, and smart grid industries in the U.S.
Toyo System chose the Columbus Region for its
business-friendly environment and many supporting
institutes and companies. Toyo is part of the Region's
growing cluster of automotive technologies.
3. 2
ATTRACTION PROJECTS:
DOMESTIC/INTERNATIONAL
ATTRACTION PROJECTS:
SUSPECTS AND PROSPECTS
ATTRACTION PROJECTS:
PROJECTS BY SECTOR
ATTRACTION PROJECTS:
PROJECTS BY SOURCE
COLUMBUS 2020 MONTHLY UPDATE | APRIL 2013
ACTIVE PROJECTS AS OF APRIL 30, 2013
TOTAL ACTIVE PROJECTS
(133 PROJECTS)
EXPANSION PROJECTS:
PROJECTS BY SOURCE
EXPANSION PROJECTS:
PROJECTS BY SECTOR
66
15
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Suspect Prospect
Suspects = Projects identified and
qualified via direct dialogue with the
company or consultant representing the
company.
Prospects = Projects qualified,
parameters defined and the company or
consultant has visited the Region.
61%
39%
New Existing
85%
5%
10%
Columbus 2020
Local ED partners
JobsOhio
71%
19%
10%
Columbus 2020
Local ED partners
JobsOhio
29
5
14
4
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
36
18 18
9
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
68%
32%
Domestic International
4. BUSINESS ATTRACTION | DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
APRIL 2013 COMPLETED ACTIVITIES
MAY 2013 PLANNED ACTIVITIES
Sioux Falls
MAEDC
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MISSIONS:
INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES:
3
Columbus 2020 European Mission to France and UK, Columbus
2020 Japan Mission
Dallas, St. Louis, Charlotte, Columbia, Greenville, Washington, D.C.,
New York
COLUMBUS 2020 MONTHLY UPDATE | APRIL 2013
New York: The 2020 team attended the 3-D Printing Expo
Conference in New York City to network and learn more about 3-D
printing, a niche and high-growth industry.
Hartford: The 2020 team traveled to Hartford to meet with
companies.
Southern California: The 2020 team conducted a business
development mission to California, meeting with companies and also
attending the Angel Capital Association 2013 Summit.
Chicago: The 2020 team traveled to Chicago along with JobsOhio
leadership to meet with site selection consultants and promote Ohio
and the Columbus Region.
St. Louis: The 2020 team attended the Area Development FDI
Forum to discuss the latest factors driving international site selection
and foreign investment.
Germany: While on an international mission to Germany, the
Columbus 2020 team attended the Hannover Trade Fair and held
meetings with growing manufacturing companies considering
expansion into the United States.
Orlando: The 2020 team attended the Association for Corporate
Growth (ACG) Capital Connection event in Orlando.
5. APRIL 2013 Performance:
36 Visits in April (130 YTD)
Visits conducted by:
CASE STUDY: SAFELITE GROUP, INC.
Jobs: 350 created
Capital investment: $48.4 million
Facility: Office
4
COLUMBUS 2020 MONTHLY UPDATE | APRIL 2013
BUSINESS RETENTION & EXPANSION | APRIL 2013
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT VISITS CONDUCTED BY LOCATION VISITS CONDUCTED BY SECTOR
Safelite, a leading auto glass repair and installation company,
will expand its headquarters in the city of Columbus, on
Farmers Drive near I-270 and Sawmill Road. The company will
invest $48 million and add 350 jobs to the existing 1,000-plus
employees already in place.
The Columbus Region and Ohio competed with locations in
Iowa and Texas for the expansion project. Safelite's business
has roughly doubled since 2007 and they hope to continue
this pace of growth over the next 3-5 years. In addition to its
headquarters, Safelite also has a call center and repair
operations in the Columbus Region.
47%
28%
25%
Columbus
2020 only
Local ED
partner only
Both 2020
and LEDO
10
8
2
4
3
2
7
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
7
8
14
7
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
6. Source: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
CASE STUDY: nChannel
5
Source: Ohio Secretary of State
*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.
BUSINESS CREATION
BUSINESS DISSOLUTIONS,
SURRENDERS, WITHDRAWALS
PATENTS BY REGION INVENTORS &
ASSIGNEES
NEW BUSINESS REGISTRATION*
COLUMBUS 2020 MONTHLY UPDATE | APRIL 2013
nChannel recently closed a $2.4 million Series A funding round
led by the Ohio TechAngels Funds. The nChannel cloud-based
multi-channel management platform enables retailers to improve
visibility and streamline operations. In the last 12 months, the
company processed over 833,000 subscriber order transactions
worth over $365 million.
The funding will enable nChannel to launch new product
offerings, expand customer support, and fuel growth through
direct sales and the company's expanding partner network.
Participants in the latest funding round include Ohio TechAngels
Fund III, North Coast Angel Fund II, Grouse Ridge Capital, Queen
City Angels, TechColumbus Co-Investment Fund, and individual
angel investors.
1,165
1,326
1,127
1,258
500
750
1000
1250
1500
Dec Jan Feb Mar
323 313
199 186
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
Dec Jan Feb Mar
81
19
90
33
98
22
91
18
Inventor Assignee
Dec Jan Feb Mar
7. 6
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEWS
COLUMBUS IN THE NEWS WORKFORCE
COLUMBUS 2020 MONTHLY UPDATE | APRIL 2013
TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE
Columbus named a top city for small business
The second annual thumbtack.com small business survey
gives Columbus an "A" grade for its small business
friendliness.
http://bit.ly/XaV8Yq
Columbus among top 10 cities for finding employment
A new study from Adecco Staffing names Columbus the fifth
best city in the U.S. for finding a job, reflecting the Region's
diversity of industries, cost of living and workforce.
http://onforb.es/15BMeYU
Columbus makes top 10 U.S. growth cities
The U-Haul Top U.S. Growth Cities report ranks Columbus
the 9th top growth area for families that moved in 2012,
based on more than 1.6 million U-Haul one-way truck
transactions. http://bit.ly/16ZRSA6
An analytics hub grows in Columbus
IBM's decision to make Columbus its North American hub for
big data analytics has helped to build momentum for the
Region as a center for analytics services and skills training.
http://bit.ly/120lr4f
For all of the latest news, visit:
http://columbusregion.com/news-events-reports/in-the-
media
Logistics job fair
The Columbus Region Logistics Council and the
Columbus Chamber, in cooperation with Columbus
State Community College, are working together to
support the growth of the logistics industry through
a semi-annual logistics job fair to be held May 14.
http://columbus.org/events/details.dT/logisticsjobfa
ir2013
Hiring Our Heroes job fair
Hiring Our Heroes is a nationwide initiative to help
veterans and military spouses find meaningful
employment. A job fair is being held in the Columbus
area on May 28 to help those who have served.
Registration is free.
http://columbus.org/events/details.dT/2013-hiring-
our-heroes-job-fair
Kasich signs transportation budget
On April 1, Governor Kasich officially signed Ohio's
Transportation Budget (SubHB51). The governor
touted the Ohio Turnpike plan, saying it will create
65,000 jobs, lead to better infrastructure, and give
the state flexibility to finish construction jobs.
Nonstop flights added from Los Angeles
American Airlines announced they will be adding
nonstop flights to Columbus from Los Angeles.
Service will begin on August 27.
Port Columbus airport expansion
From now through 2015 Port Columbus will receive
$80 million dollars' worth of improvements,
including improved shopping and dining options,
updated restrooms and terrazzo floors throughout
the terminals. Additionally, a new south runway will
add capacity for more flights. Planners expect
passenger arrivals will increase to 10 million from the
current 6.5 million annually.
8. Source: Xceligent Source: Columbus Board of Realtors
7
HOUSING SALES
$15.46
$2.94
$9.29
Industrial
Retail
7.9%
10.1%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment
Statistics, Seasonally Adjusted
Source: Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
Direct
Asking Rent
(per sf)
Vacancy
Rate
Use
Office 16.9%
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
(AS OF APRIL 30)
COLUMBUS 2020 MONTHLY UPDATE | APRIL 2013
REGIONAL ECONOMIC DATA
NUMBER EMPLOYED AND UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (March 2013) NUMBER OF WEEKLY UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS
(WEEK ENDING 2/2/13 TO WEEK ENDING 4/27/13)
7.8% (-0.0)
Marion
26,927 (-645)
6.8% (-0.2)
Knox
27,650 (+46)
Unemployment
rate
(Mar 2013)
Number
employed
residents
(Mar 2013)
Change from
Mar 2012 to
Mar 2013
4.8% (-0.4)
Delaware
89,139 (+403)
6.1% (-0.2)
Fairfield
70,258 (+328)
6.2% (-0.3)
Franklin
590,492 (+2,760)
6.5% (-0.2)
Licking
79,508 (+367)
6.8% (-0.3)
Madison
18,847 (+89)
7.3% (-0.5)
Morrow
16,191 (+66)
7.3% (-0.8)
Pickaway
22,686 (+107)
5.8% (+0.2)
Union
25,493 (+117)
6.8% (-0.2)
Logan
21,450 (-100)
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
8,000
9,000
10,000
11,000
12,000
13,000
14,000
15,000
16,000
17,000
2/2
2/9
2/16
2/23
3/2
3/9
3/16
3/23
3/30
4/6
4/13
4/20
4/27
Continuing New
3,458
2,705
1,709
$153K
3,484 3,245
1,896
$160K
New
Listings
In
Contracts
Closed
Sales
Average
Sales Price
Mar 2012 Mar 2013