LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel stopped at P&G in Lima Wednesday as part of their statewide “Heart of Opportunity Tour.”
The tour kicked off earlier this week with stops at businesses and industries across Ohio. It follows CNBC ranking Ohio No. 1 on its list of America’s Top States for Business.
During their visit to P&G’s new scent beads facility, which opened in June, DeWine highlighted Ohio’s workforce and infrastructure as key reasons companies continue to invest in the state.
P&G officials said those factors helped the company make the nearly $500 million investment in its new Lima facility.
They also said attracting and retaining workers requires communities where people want to live, work and raise their families.
“In order for people to come and work here, you need a thriving community, a thriving local society where you have great education systems, great healthcare, you need a thriving arts community, thriving sports community, thriving entertainment community,” said Sundar Raman, CEO of P&G Fabric & Home Care. “People come from all over the world to live here, work here, raise families and make this their home. In order to do that, you can never stand still. We love that about our partnership with Ohio. That's the reason why we stay here after 190 years and why the partnership is so strong.”
DeWine said keeping Ohio at the top means continued investment, especially in the state’s future workforce.
“We're happy to be #1, but we know if we want to stay number one, we have to keep moving. We have to keep going forward,” DeWine said. “Part of what our message is today is, there'll be a new governor and lieutenant governor, new members of the cabinet, and some different members of the legislature at least. But there's certain things we have to keep doing. The number one thing is that we have to invest in our kids. We have to continue to do that.”
DeWine and Tressel will continue the “Heart of Opportunity Tour” with additional stops around Ohio next week.
