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Dayton & Western Ohio

Dayton and Western Ohio blends strengths in polymers and advanced materials, advanced manufacturing, corporate and professional services, and aerospace. The region’s aerospace research and development leverages opportunities for government-supportive business driven by atmospheric and aerospace flight advances at the Dayton-based Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and Air Force Research Laboratory.

A leader in information technology, the Dayton region is home to world headquarters for Lexis-Nexis and Reynolds & Reynolds, creating a per capita information-worker population 41 percent higher than the Ohio average and 13 percent higher than the national average. Dayton and Western Ohio's commitment to new IT opportunities is clear and can be seen in the region’s investment and support for a cluster of organizations that are at the forefront of information technologies, such as RFID and sensors. The region is the 4th largest tooling and machining hub in North America, with more than 800 related companies, including leading manufacturing employers such as Behr America. The industry is both deep and diverse, with multi-source opportunities in brazing, robotics, plastics.

The Dayton region is home to several of the world's top materials research institutions. The University of Dayton Research Institute is ranked #2 in the nation and the Air Force Research Labs Materials Directorate executes over $500 million per year of materials research, much of which is accomplished by small innovative businesses and Universities in the Dayton Region and Ohio.

Dayton and Southwest Ohio is home to over 100,000 enrolled students across 40 colleges and universities, including Miami University, Sinclair Community College, the University of Dayton, Wittenberg University, and Wright State University. Moreover, Dayton Western Ohio has a high school graduation rate of more than 90 percent and 10 K-12 school districts with an "excellent" rating from the State of Ohio.

The Dayton region is a diverse mixture of cultures, experience, people and places. With attractions like the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, Minor League Baseball, or the world-class Dayton Art Institute, the region offers abundant and affordable cultural opportunities, all within a short commute.

"The business climate and quality of life are excellent in Ohio," says Al Wofford, president and CEO of Dayton-headquartered CDO Technologies Inc, a software tracking application company he launched after concluding his military career at Wright-Patterson that has grown to include six satellite offices including a Cincinnati location. "Personally and professionally, I can find everything I want right here."

Dayton and Southwest Ohio Quickfacts

• 40 colleges and universities with 104,469 students enrolled
• Nearly 8,000 annual bachelor's degrees granted
• 2,402 annual master’s degrees granted
• Over 500 annual post-master’s and doctorate degrees granted
• Total aquifer storage of approximately 1.5 trillion gallons of groundwater
• Over 90,000 skilled manufacturing workers and technicians
• Sinclair Community college in downtown Dayton boasts education opportunities in both STEM disciplines and specifically in the tooling and machining industry
• Dayton Aerospace Engineers earn a median annual salary of $91,760, over $13,000 more than comparable cities, such as San Antonio, Texas
• Air Force Material Command headquartered at Wright Patterson Air Force Base has a workforce of over 6,000 specializing in the acquisition, management services and logistics sup

Regional Economic Development Links

• Dayton Development Coalition
• Greater Springfield Community Improvement Corporation
• Miamisburg Mound Community Improvement Corporation
• Troy Development Council
• Ohio Department of Development

Regional Publications

• Dayton Development Coalition Memberlink Newsletter
• Dayton Daily News