COLUMBUS, OH -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 04/18/07 -- A new report ranks Ohio No. 1 in the nation for the largest number of top metropolitan cities for capital investment. Released by Site Selection Magazine, one of the nation's leading location assistance publications, the report ranked Ohio, with 9 metropolitan cities, at the top of the list.

"Ohio offers an ideal mix of big city, metropolitan areas and smaller micropolitan areas," said Ed Burghard, executive director of the Ohio Business Development Coalition, a nonprofit organization that provides marketing strategy and implementation to support Ohio's economic development efforts.

"This breadth of city options, along with Ohio's central location and large, skilled labor force, allows executives to find a perfect location to build their successful business. And wherever they locate in the state, these executives have vast cultural, educational and recreational opportunities available to them, allowing for a successful personal life as well," Burghard said. "This unique combination makes Ohio the state of perfect balance."

Top metropolitan cities in Ohio are Akron, Canton/Massillon, Cincinnati/Middletown, Cleveland/Elyria/Mentor, Columbus, Dayton, Ironton (metro area includes Huntington, W.Va. and Ashland, Ky.), Toledo and Youngstown/Warren/Boardman. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a metropolitan city is a community with more than 50,000 people that has a largely self-sustaining local economy.

Officials for Site Selection Magazine said they based the rankings on the number of private capital investments for new or expanded facilities that: involved an investment of at least $1 million; created a minimum of 50 new jobs; or added at least 20,000 square feet of new floor area. Ohio led the nation with 431 projects. Of these, 294 were projects in metropolitan cities.

Leading Ohio with 82 projects is the Cincinnati metro area. Cobasys, a manufacturing plant in the suburb of Springboro, was the largest project in the Cincinnati metro area. In 2006 Cobasys, which produces batteries for hybrid vehicles, completed a $137-million expansion project and has an additional $100-million expansion project planned for 2007.

Other top ranking states for metropolitan cities include Virginia and Florida, which tied for second with eight each; New York, Alabama, Pennsylvania and Texas tied for third with seven each.

About the Ohio Business Development Coalition

The Ohio Business Development Coalition (OBDC) is a nonprofit organization that provides marketing strategy and implementation to support Ohio's economic development efforts.

For more information, visit www.ohiomeansbusiness.com.

For more information about the Top Metropolitan rankings, visit www.siteselection.com.

Media Contact:
Caroline Cofer
Paul Werth Associates
614-224-8114, ext. 232
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