News Summary

Although Ohio is struggling economically, it is far from gasping its last breath, local business leaders say.

A recent Forbes.com report ranks the state as one of the 10 fastest-dying states in the country based on population, unemployment and economic statistics.

Dayton was singled out as one of four Ohio cities decaying as it struggles to recover from heavy job losses in the manufacturing sector. This includes the General Motors Corp. closing its Moraine plant by 2010, cutting thousands of local jobs.

While the area has been bleeding some jobs, it's also seeing growth, said Chris Xeil Lyons, an economic specialist with the city of Hamilton.

"Really, Southwest Ohio is thriving at this point. It could be a lot better, obviously, but it's definitely not dying," she said.

The city itself has seen new growth with Japanese company Neturen opening and family-owned Vinylmax LLC opening new manufacturing facilities this year. SMART Papers announced a $32 million investment to create a new power plant which will allow it to eliminate its carbon emissions and become completely energy-independent, she said.

Large projects like West Chester Twp.'s new Amylin Pharmaceuticals facility helped Ohio garner its second Site Selection's Governor's Cup award for economic growth.

With this award, Lyons said it's hard to understand Forbes' assessment on Ohio.

Such reports can unduly affect the opinions of site selection consultants when they consider locating a business in this area, said Bill Murphy, economic development director for the city of Middletown.

"I'm sure to some extent it plays into (the site selection consultants') thinking for locations for their own companies or companies they work for and where to locate them," he said. "It makes our job that much harder."

Beyond manufacturing, the area is also starting to offer more health care service at centers like Atrium and Children's Medical, consumer products at nearby Procter & Gamble and technical services through companies like Vora Ventures, he said.

"It's a lot of manufacturing but the numbers are changing," Murphy said.