Ohio is giving workers, families and employers something many high-cost states cannot, room to grow. A new Wall Street Journal report highlights encouraging momentum in northeast Ohio, where Akron and Cleveland are seeing modest population gains after decades of decline, and where more people are choosing to stay, return or put down roots.

That matters to Ohio’s manufacturing economy. Young professionals are coming home. Families are finding attainable housing. Former industrial spaces are being transformed into hubs for technology, startups and advanced manufacturing. Akron’s former B.F. Goodrich tire factory, once a symbol of industrial loss, now houses the Bounce Innovation Hub and more than 60 small companies. Ohio’s manufacturing legacy is becoming a launchpad for what comes next.

The report also underscores one of Ohio’s biggest advantages, affordability. While many workers are being priced out of coastal and Sunbelt markets, communities across Ohio offer the chance to buy a home, build a career and raise a family without sacrificing opportunity.

“Ohio has the people, communities and cost advantages to win the next generation of manufacturing investment,” said Jessica Borza, managing director of workforce services for the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. “When talent sees a future here, manufacturers do too. This is the kind of momentum that strengthens our workforce, supports investment and reminds the country that Ohio is still where things get built.” 5/26/2026