Toledo Blade. June 12, 2024. Editorial: Ohio economy falling It is helpful to see the comma between Toledo and Ohio as a plus sign.
The link between city and state is a key factor in the success of each. Right now Ohio is falling into serious decline and that hurts every city in the state. The financial website WalletHub has a rating out on the 50 state economies, and Ohio’s ranking does not match the state’s incessant boasting about economic development success.
WalletHub ranks Ohio’s economy as 42nd. The Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank recently rated the state 45th. Each study confirms Ohio is lagging and should stop bragging.
The Blade Editorial Board strongly believes misguided state policy that has cut the local government fund in Ohio’s budget by more than two-thirds for over a decade has been a monumental blunder that shifts too much financial power to the state. Economic development always requires a local partner. Ohio has foolishly weakened an equal partner in the process and turned that plus sign into a minus sign.
Ohio policy fails to understand most economic activity consists of small projects that do not get the massive incentives JobsOhio provided to the Intel computer chip plant in Licking County. The smaller the development prospect the bigger the role played by local government. Ohio’s economic weakness is from a failure to help its communities earn those small development opportunities through the most attractive possible environment.
Every Ohio ci.
