Ohio's High-Tech Gambit: A Blueprint for America's Reindustrialization

LAS VEGAS, NV – January 06, 2026 – While the annual CES is typically a showcase for the latest consumer gadgets, this year marks a significant shift as states themselves become headline acts. Ohio is stepping into that spotlight, leveraging the new CES 2026 Manufacturing Track to make a bold declaration: the heart of America's industrial revival beats in the Buckeye State.

JobsOhio, the state's private nonprofit economic development corporation, is hosting two high-profile panels designed to demonstrate why global innovators in aerospace, AI, and clean energy are increasingly choosing Ohio as their launchpad. The sessions feature a powerful lineup of CEOs, including Joby Aviation's JoeBen Bevirt, Oklo's Jacob DeWitte, and Atomic Industries' Aaron Slodov, alongside The Ohio State University President Ted Carter and JobsOhio's own President and CEO, J.P. Nauseef.

The move signals a broader trend where tech conferences are becoming crucial arenas for economic competition among states. By taking center stage at the world’s most influential tech event, Ohio is not just promoting its business climate; it's presenting a replicable model for national reindustrialization.

The JobsOhio Engine: A Unique Model for Growth

At the core of Ohio's strategy is JobsOhio, an entity structured unlike any other state economic development agency. Funded not by taxpayer dollars but by the profits from its management of the state's liquor enterprise, JobsOhio wields a stable and flexible source of capital. This unique public-private framework allows it to make swift, long-term commitments and cut through bureaucratic red tape, a key selling point for fast-moving tech companies.

"States don't usually take center stage at CES; however, this year's new Manufacturing Track is the perfect opportunity for attendees to hear why Ohio is leading the reindustrialization of the U.S.," the organization stated. The first panel, titled "Manufacturing the Future: Energy. Mobility. AI.," aims to directly address how Ohio helps companies get their innovations to market faster.

The results of this model appear substantial. According to its 2023 annual report, JobsOhio secured 327 project wins that year, representing a staggering $14.4 billion in capital investment and the projected creation of over 16,000 new jobs with an average wage significantly higher than the state's private industry average. This performance has helped bolster Ohio’s national reputation, with CNBC ranking it the #1 state for Infrastructure and #2 for Cost of Doing Business in its 2025 "America's Top States for Business" list, contributing to an overall ranking of 5th in the nation.

Landing the Giants: From Silicon to 'Silicon Heartland'

Ohio's pitch is backed by a string of monumental investments that are physically reshaping its landscape. The most prominent is Intel's $28 billion project in New Albany to build two new leading-edge semiconductor fabs. Dubbed the "Silicon Heartland," the project is the largest single private-sector investment in the state's history, promising 3,000 direct Intel jobs and thousands more in construction and supporting industries. While timelines have been adjusted, with operations now expected to begin between 2030 and 2032, the state has already disbursed a $600 million onshoring grant to facilitate the massive undertaking.

The state is also becoming a critical hub for the future of mobility. Joby Aviation, a leader in the nascent electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) market, selected Dayton—the birthplace of aviation—for its first scaled aircraft production facility. The company plans to invest up to $500 million and create 2,000 jobs, supported by a state and local incentive package of up to $325 million. Meanwhile, automotive giant Honda is investing over $1 billion to retool its Ohio plants for electric vehicle production and is building a new $3.5 billion battery plant in a joint venture with LG Energy Solution.

Further diversifying its high-tech portfolio, Ohio has attracted major players in biotechnology and defense. Amgen is pouring over $1.4 billion into its biomanufacturing campus in New Albany, creating hundreds of skilled jobs. Defense contractor Anduril is also building a factory near Columbus to mass-produce autonomous drones and weapon systems, cementing the state's role in critical national security supply chains.

Forging the Workforce for Industry 4.0

Attracting multi-billion-dollar facilities is only half the battle; staffing them with a skilled workforce is the other. Ohio's strategy heavily integrates its educational institutions and workforce development programs to create a robust talent pipeline. The inclusion of The Ohio State University's president on the CES panel underscores this focus. The state is home to the #3 manufacturing workforce in the nation, a deep-rooted asset it is now evolving for the age of AI and automation.

Initiatives like JobsOhio's TechCred program help upskill existing workers, while partnerships between companies and universities ensure that curricula align with the demands of advanced manufacturing, robotics, and data science. The state's second CES panel, "Leading AI at Scale: Success Factors for Growth in the AI Economy," will delve into these critical components, examining everything from workforce readiness and data strategy to the energy infrastructure required to power a tech-driven economy.

As global supply chains are re-evaluated and the demand for domestic, high-tech production grows, Ohio's proactive strategy offers a compelling case study. By pairing its industrial heritage with a forward-looking economic model, the state is making a convincing argument at CES 2026 that it is not just ready for the future of manufacturing—it is actively building it.