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Ohio Forms Marketing Partnership to Boost Development
"COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A new statewide, nonprofit marketing partnership called the Ohio Business Development Coalition is getting $8.1 million from the Ohio Department of Development, according to Bruce E. Johnson, ODOD director. The primary objective of the coalition is to provide the department and regional development organizations with qualified business development leads and effective tools to retain and expand Ohio companies and attract new companies to Ohio. The new coalition is charged with developing and executing a targeted, proactive sales and marketing strategy to position Ohio as an overall brand in order to more aggressively compete for business investment and expansion opportunities, Johnson said. Creation of the OBDC will help optimize Ohio's marketing dollars by focusing on a cohesive message, while at the same time sharing the cost, he added. The marketing and industry research necessary to implement the coalition's mission is being conducted by two national organizations -- Deloitte & Touche LLP and Landor Associates. The research will identify an overall brand for Ohio and develop targeted sales messages based on the criteria that business decision-makers look for to expand a business. A marketing and sales strategy will be developed to enable Ohio to compete on a business-to-business level, Johnson said.The Ohio Business Development Coalition consists of members from 37 companies and regional economic development organizations. Members as of Nov. 15 are as follows:AEP Northeast Ohio Trade & Economic ConsortiumApplied Sciences Inc. NCRBrilex North Central Ohio Development PartnershipCedar Point Northwest Ohio Regional Economic DevelopmentCincinnati Children's Hospital Ohio Manufacturing AssociationCinergy Ohio Business RoundtableCleveland Foundation Ohio Polymer Strategy CouncilDayton Development Coalition Procter & GambleDiagnostic Hybrids Rowmark Inc.Dow Chemical Co. Rudolph/Libbe Inc.Eastern Ohio Development Alliance Ruscilli Corp.General Motors Corp. SBC CommunicationsGreater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce SOFCO-EFS Holdings LLCGreater Cleveland Partnership Team NEOGreater Columbus Chamber of Commerce TimkenInternational Paper Turner FoundationKent State University Vanner Inc.Mead Westvaco West Central PartnershipMedical Mutual"