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Location & Infrastructure

A 21st Century Infrastructure to Connect, Transport and Travel Worldwide

Ohio Infrastructure Cargo Plane

Quality infrastructure is critical to support supply chains, facilitate communication and connect businesses to reliable and affordable energy sources. Thanks to unprecedented investments in transportation, digital technology and trade, Ohio hosts the dependable infrastructure required to do global business.

Ohio Provides Logistical Access for Your Business

Ohio is a well-established base for companies moving goods around the globe, being just a one-day drive from more than 60 percent of U.S. and Canadian populations. Major cities including Chicago, New York City and Toronto are easily accessible via air, rail and road. Among the nation’s leaders for trucking and storing goods, Ohio’s north coast on Lake Erie includes a groundbreaking shipping service linking the Industrial Midwest, the Port of Toledo and the Great Lakes to Europe.

Through one (or many) of JobsOhio’s sites and buildings initiatives, including development ready sites, you can find an ideal location near these resources.

Ohio’s Energy Supply

Ohio’s infrastructure provides cheap, reliable energy. Eleven natural gas-fired power plants fueled from the region’s Marcellus and Utica shale formations are coming online - providing a cleaner, more affordable power source for generations to come.

Ohio’s infrastructure is designed around creating a fast, cost-effective, and digital future − one connection at a time.

Fast Facts

  • Ohio is one of six states to receive an A grade in logistics industry health in a Conexus Indiana report from the Ball State University Center for Business and Economic Research.
  • Ohio is one of the top 10 freight destination states by the value of goods shipped annually, making it an important state for logistics.
  • Trucking employment ranks No. 2 in the Midwest, No. 4 in the U.S., ensuring there are always drivers available for shipments.
  • Ohio ranks as the fifth highest state in the nation in warehousing and storage services.

Ohio’s Infrastructure

Ohio is connected to the rest of the world via land, air and water, creating a comprehensive and complete infrastructure for shipping worldwide, which is why Logistics and Distribution are one of our key industries. The flexibility of choice and cost savings this offers companies is one of the reasons Ohio’s infrastructure is among the best in the U.S.

Click on the map below to learn more about road, rail, ports and air infrastructure as well as foreign trade zones.

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Road
Ohio has the fourth largest interstate highway system in the nation, with nearly 7,000 lane miles on eight major routes. The system has the fifth highest average daily vehicle miles traveled.

Rail
Ohio has 10 major rail yards and 13 intermodal terminals, the second highest number in the U.S. Ohio has the fourth largest network of operating railroads in the nation. The state’s 5,388 miles of active freight rail is No. 3 in the U.S. Ohio has four class one, rail-based suppliers: CSX, Norfolk Southern, Canadian Pacific and Canadian National.

Ports
Ohio has nine commercial ports on Lake Erie and multiple terminals along the Ohio River. It is the only Midwest state with a direct shipping route to Europe from the Port of Cleveland for both container and heavy goods, reducing time to market by five days or more. The Port of Toledo in Northwest Ohio is one of the largest ports in the Great Lakes. Ohio has 736 miles of navigable waterways leading to the Gulf of Mexico and the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Air
Ohio has seven commercial air carrier airports and 97 general aviation airports. Rickenbacker International Airport near Columbus is one of the world’s only cargo-focused airports and has regular service to Hong Kong, Dubai, Luxembourg and other cities around the globe. Collectively, the airports in Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland service 68 daily non-stop flights to New York City.

Foreign-Trade Zones
Ohio has nine Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ), the largest presence of FTZ with the most active firms in the Midwest.

Road
Rail
Maritime
Air
FTZ
Road Rail Maritime Air FTZ Utility Map

Rickenbacker Inland Port

Rickenbacker International Airport is one of the greatest multimodal shipment hubs in the U.S., where companies can transport faster to anywhere in the world with consistent and reliable options. Rickenbacker is a vital component of the North American International Freight Center where air, water, rail and ground transport companies collaborate daily with freight forwarders, consolidators, customs brokers and third-party logistics providers to move freight around the world. The airport supports the world’s largest aircraft, operated by premier international freighter operators that connect worldwide every day with hubs in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

Digital Infrastructure

Ohio’s statewide broadband and fiber network provides companies with access to the internet and to resources and services that support broadband.

  • Ohio currently has a high-speed 100 Gbps internet network throughout the state.
  • Over $210 million in federal grant funding was invested between 2009-2014 to build next-generation “middle mile” fiber networks.
  • Ohio’s technology infrastructure includes advantageous resources such as the Ohio Supercomputer Center and the Ohio Academic Resources Network (OARnet) - providing tech solutions and connected public-private-industry digital opportunities to help companies stay competitive.

Connect Globally in Ohio

If your business is looking for relocation or expansion opportunities, the JobsOhio team can help connect you to the resources, real estate and workforce to help your business succeed. Take advantage of the logistical infrastructure that Ohio has to offer and take your business to the next level.

 

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E-Commerce Boom Happening in Ohio
Blog

E-Commerce Boom Happening in Ohio

Retailers rely on Ohio’s location, infrastructure and high-tech chops to build distribution and fulfillment centers.
Milind Paranjape, director of technology, logistics and distribution
July 23, 2019

Changing dynamics in e-commerce are requiring retailers to invest in fulfillment centers that offer customized services that are fast, flexible and dependable.

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