Development of the Marcellus and Utica shale fields should bode well for job creation in Ohio’s Appalachian Region, according to an article appearing in Ohio Means Business.com. The article asserts that supply chain companies that want to take advantage of the commercial development of Eastern Ohio’s gas-rich Marcellus and Utica shale formations will realize greater return on their investments by locating in Ohio versus locating in other states.
Some of the advantages for businesses to locate in Ohio include: extensive natural gas pipeline networks, multi-modal and intermodal transportation networks, existing supply chains within the state, and Ohio’s favorable business taxation laws.
With regard to Ohio’s attractive business climate, the article notes that supply chain firms considering to locate in Ohio can realize lower operating costs because Ohio does not tax businesses on their inventory or for the purchase of machinery and equipment.
Should the Marcellus and Utica shale fields become the rich energy producing region that many analysts predict, the abundance of new energy coupled with its existing infrastructure systems would provide significant motivation for manufacturing firms to locate or expand in Southeastern Ohio. These transactions would translate into significant job creation for the region’s population. The resulting economic ripples could bode well for both political subdivisions and residents of Southeastern Ohio.
