2. Jobs: 185 retained
Investment:
Facilities: Business Services
1
PROJECTS APRIL 2014 AND YEAR-TO-DATE
FIRST-TIME VISITS (2013 vs. 2014)NUMBER OF PROJECTS STARTED
(2013 vs. 2014)
PERCENT OF PROJECTS STARTED MANAGED
BY COLUMBUS 2020 (2013 vs. 2014)
COLUMBUS 2020 MONTHLY UPDATE | APRIL 2014
CASE STUDY: MERRILL CORPORATION
$834,000
87%
89%100%
72%76%
69%
77%
68%65%
80% 81%
65%85%
79%
70%
77%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2013 2014
2
5
4 4
7
5
8
5
4
7
4
3
2
3
4
5
0
4
8
12
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2013 2014
23
28
17
25 29
16
22
19
17
20
16
2020
24
20
30
0
10
20
30
40
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2013 2014
Merrill Corporation, a global provider of technology-
enabled services for corporate markets, extended its lease
in Grove City. The decision includes an $834,000 capital
investment in the facility and retains the location's 185
employees. Investment to the 200,000 square foot facility
includes internal and external improvements.
The company evaluated other possible sites, but remained
committed to the Grove City location and cites the city
and the Columbus Region as a great place to grow its
business.
3. 2
ACTIVE PROJECTS AS OF APRIL 30, 2014
TOTAL ACTIVE PROJECTS
(171 PROJECTS)
EXPANSION PROJECTS:
PROJECTS BY SOURCE
EXPANSION PROJECTS:
PROJECTS BY SECTOR
EXPANSION PROJECTS:
DOMESTIC/INTERNATIONAL
COLUMBUS 2020 MONTHLY UPDATE | APRIL 2014
ATTRACTION PROJECTS:
PROJECTS BY SOURCE
ATTRACTION PROJECTS:
DOMESTIC/INTERNATIONAL
ATTRACTION PROJECTS:
SUSPECTS AND PROSPECTS
ATTRACTION PROJECTS:
PROJECTS BY SECTOR
83
30
0
20
40
60
80
100
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.
66%
34%
New Existing
65%
3%
32%
Columbus 2020
Local ED partners
JobsOhio
60%19%
21%
Columbus 2020
Local ED partners
JobsOhio
15
6
31
6
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
38
7
58
10
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
49%51%
Domestic International
83%
17%
Domestic International
4. BUSINESS ATTRACTION | DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
APRIL 2014 COMPLETED ACTIVITIES
MAY 2014 PLANNED ACTIVITIES
Atlanta
BABC Transatlantic Conference
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MISSIONS:
San Francisco, Seattle, Dallas
INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES:
Japan, Korea, UK, Sweden, Vancouver
3
COLUMBUS 2020 MONTHLY UPDATE | APRIL 2014
Seattle: As part of the Global Cities Initiative the Columbus 2020
team attended a working session hosted by JPMorgan Chase and
the Brookings Institution.
Phoenix: The Columbus 2020 team attended 2014 MRO Americas
conference to network with aviation industry professionals and
Austin: The Columbus 2020 team held meetings with consultants
as part of the Columbus Region's economic development strategy.
Pinehurst: The Columbus 2020 team attended the Industrial Asset
Management Council (IAMC) Spring Professional Forum to network
with real estate executives and attend business strategy sessions.
Boston/Hartford: The Columbus 2020 business development team
conducted meetings with compaines and location advidors.
China: The Columbus 2020 team conducted an international
mission to China, participating in the Pearl River Delta SelectUSA
Roadshow and meeting with dozens of companies and consultants.
5. APRIL 2014 Performance:
37 visits in April (124 YTD)
Visits conducted by:
CASE STUDY: AMERISOURCEBERGEN
Jobs: 100 created
Investment:
Facilities: Distribution
4
BUSINESS RETENTION & EXPANSION | APRIL 2014
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT VISITS CONDUCTED BY LOCATION VISITS CONDUCTED BY SECTOR
COLUMBUS 2020 MONTHLY UPDATE | APRIL 2014
$14 Million
AmericsourceBergen will build a new 87,000 square foot
distribution center in Lockbourne. The company is a
national prescription drug supplier responsible for
distributing nearly one-third of all pharmaceuticals across
the U.S. AmerisourceBergen employs 500 within Central
Ohio and the expansion will create 100 new jobs in the
Lockbourne area including positions in supply chain,
management and data processing.
Local officials believe the move will help facilitate the
Columbus Region as a nationwide hub for the industry. The
new facility is planned to open this fall.
43%
38%
19% Columbus
2020 only
Local ED
partner only
Both 2020
and LEDO
11
3
6
5
3 3
6
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
12
2
19
4
0
5
10
15
20
25
6. Source: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
CASE STUDY: 2CHECKOUT.COM
Jobs: Dozens created
Investment: $60 million
5
COLUMBUS 2020 MONTHLY UPDATE | APRIL 2014
BUSINESS CREATION
BUSINESS DISSOLUTIONS,
SURRENDERS, WITHDRAWALS
PATENTS BY REGION INVENTORS
& ASSIGNEES
NEW BUSINESS REGISTRATION*
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.
Grandview Heights-based company, 2Checkout.com raised $60
million in venture capital for expansion in Columbus and Dublin,
Ireland. The payment processing company specializing in e-
commerce provides the technology behind the online checkout
process for more than 22,000 merchants. It is expected to
dominate the international scene because of a niche capability
to easily perform currency conversions between merchants and
customers.
2Checkout currently handles payments in 26 currencies and 15
languages with continuing build-out plans anticipated. The
company also expects to hire dozens of new employees in
Central Ohio.
1,078
1,314 1,283
1,446
500
750
1000
1250
1500
Dec Jan Feb Mar
246
269
155
198
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
Dec Jan Feb Mar
84
20
60
21
96
26
60
19
Inventor Assignee
Dec Jan Feb Mar
7. 6
POLICY & ADVOCACYCOLUMBUS REGION IN THE NEWS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEWS
COLUMBUS 2020 MONTHLY UPDATE | APRIL 2014
TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE
Columbus Global Connect program launched to make
Region a top exporter
Columbus Global Connect is a global trade and
investment strategy for the Columbus Region. The
strategy complements Columbus 2020's existing 10-
year goals and international business development
efforts. http://bit.ly/1noGqIU
A focus on workforce is paying off in logistics
Columbus continues to develop its skilled workforce as
a competitive advantage in the logistics industry. Paired
with access to 46 percent of the U.S. population within a
10 hour drive, Columbus is an attractive and ideal hub
for distribution and logistics operations.
http://bit.ly/R4rjZu
Central Ohio jobless rate hits 6-year low
The unemployment rate fell to five percent in March
matching the pre-recession levels of 2008. Employers in
the region added 1,500 jobs and the unemployed count
fell by 2,600 during the past month. The Columbus
Region included three of eight counties with rates below
5 percent. http://bit.ly/1kFbb9R
For all of the latest news, visit:
http://columbusregion.com/Media-center/Recent-
News.aspx
Central Ohio preparing for influx of 500,000
new residents with insight2050
Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC),
ULI Columbus and Columbus 2020 have retained
Calthorpe Associates to develop a set of analytical
tools to assist local decision makers in preparation
for the future growth and development in the
Region. Central Ohio is expected to add 500,000
residents by 2050 and the initiative will allow a
public and private sector committee to objectively
study several growth scenarios and the impact of
each on local municipalities and the Region.
For more information, go to: http://bit.ly/1neGKwf
Amerijet to set up cargo hub at Rickenbacker
Amerijet International plans to establish a new cargo
hub at Rickenbacker Airport, on the heels of
announcements from the airport's newest carriers
Cargolux Airlines International and Cathay Pacific
Cargo. Amerijet has signed a lease for a 20,000
square foot space and will run flights six days a
week beginning in July. Columbus and Reno, Nevada
will serve as its two U.S. air and truck system hubs.
According to David Whitaker, Columbus Regional
Airport Authority vice president of business
development, the growth positions Rickenbacker
with an opportunity to become a global gateway for
air cargo. Columbus is a growing market and airport
officials and local economic development leaders
hope the increase in cargo traffic will continue to
attract more cargo carriers, warehouse operators
and other businesses to the area.
For more information, go to: http://bit.ly/1jZw6UE
8. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Seasonally Adjusted
Source: Xceligent Source: Columbus REALTORS
7
NUMBER OF WEEKLY UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS
(WEEK ENDING 2/8/14 TO WEEK ENDING 5/3/14)
COLUMBUS 2020 MONTHLY UPDATE | APRIL 2014
REGIONAL ECONOMIC DATA
NUMBER EMPLOYED AND UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (MARCH 2014)
Source: Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
Direct
Asking Rent
(per sf)
Vacancy
Rate
Use
Office 14.9%
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
(AS OF APRIL 30)
HOUSING SALES
$15.65
$2.99
$9.52
Industrial
Retail
6.0%
8.9%
6.6% (-1.5)
Marion
26,575 (-448)
5.4% (-1.6)
Knox
29,005 (+764)
Unemployment
rate
(Mar 2014)
Number
employed
residents
(Mar 2014)
Change
from
Mar 2013 to
Mar 2014
4.1% (-0.9)
Delaware
91.697 (+1,189)
5.1% (-1.4)
Fairfield
71,487 (+1,045)
5.2% (-1.2)
Franklin
605,693 (+6,983)
4.9% (-1.9)
Licking
80,838 (+,244)
5.0% (-0.6)
Madison
18,985 (+293)
5.8% (-2.0)
Morrow
16,477 (+280)
5.8% (-1.8)
Pickaway
23,184 (+345)
4.5% (-1.6)
Union
25,790 (+350)
4.8% (-2.2)
Logan
22,521 (+640)
0
400
800
1,200
1,600
2,000
2,400
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
16,000
18,000
20,000
2/8
2/15
2/22
3/1
3/8
3/15
3/22
3/29
4/5
4/12
4/19
4/26
5/3
Continuing New
3,501
3,245
2,007
$148K3,428
3,067
1,796
$159K
New
Listings
In
Contracts
Closed
Sales
Average
Sales
Price
Mar 2013 Mar 2014
