Husted op-ed: Ohio’s long road from economic decline to No. 1

“I have been fortunate to play a role in many of those reforms during my years in public service, and I have witnessed firsthand the difficult decisions that helped Ohio climb from near the bottom of the pack to the top.” WASHINGTON – Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) penned an op-ed in the Cincinnati Enquirer tracing Ohio’s transformation from the nation’s 34th-ranked state for business in 2010 to the No. 1 state for business in 2026. In the piece, Husted reflects on the policy decisions, long-term investments and collaborative leadership that helped fuel Ohio’s economic resurgence and position the state as a national leader. Key excepts include: “When CNBC published its Top States for Business rankings in 2010, Ohio ranked 34th. In its latest rankings, Ohio is number one.” . . . “That recognition is gratifying because I remember just how difficult things were for Ohio families not all that long ago.” . . . “I grew up in northwest Ohio during a time when our state was in economic freefall. Around the time I graduated from high school, the company where my father worked was failing. My dad and my uncle lost their jobs in our hometown of Montpelier, and my family ultimately had to leave Ohio to find work.” . . . “I loved Ohio, so I stayed. I went to work in economic development at the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce because I believed our state could compete again, and I’m not a quitter.” . . . “Those were difficult years. Companies were leaving Ohio, and manufacturing communities were suffering.” . . . “Our state had one of the nation’s highest income tax rates, three burdensome business taxes, and even taxed the machinery and equipment companies needed to modernize and compete. We had become a harder place to invest, build, hire and grow.” . . . “Fortunately, leaders in both the public and private sectors began the long work of turning Ohio around.” . . . “I have been fortunate to play a role in many of those reforms during my years in public service, and I have witnessed firsthand the difficult decisions that helped Ohio climb from near the bottom of the pack to the top.” . . . “Governors and legislators from both parties made important contributions. “Governor George Voinovich restored fiscal discipline and reformed workers’ compensation. “Governor Bob Taft championed tax and tort reform. “Governor John Kasich created JobsOhio and signed a law eliminating the death tax to make Ohio more competitive. “Governor Mike DeWine has built on that foundation with major investments in infrastructure, career and technical education, workforce development and transformational economic development projects.” . . . “At the turn of this century, Ohio was losing people, jobs, and confidence. Today, Ohio has more people employed than at any time in our state’s history, and unemployment remains near historic lows.” . . . “Of course, being No. 1 doesn’t mean our work is finished. The best organizations − and the best states − never stop improving. Every day presents another opportunity to become more competitive.” . . . “My goal has always been simple: to help make Ohio a place where our children and grandchildren can build successful careers close to the communities that raised them − if that’s where they choose to live. “They may still pursue opportunities across the country or around the world, and that’s part of the American dream. “But they should never have to leave because Ohio failed to provide one.” . . . “We’ve come a long way, and while there is still more to do, Ohio has proven that decline is not destiny.” Read the full op-ed here .