Groups applaud Ohio’s new national business ranking
By J.D. Davidson
The Center Square
The Ohio Chamber of Commerce wants to boost awareness of the state’s new top-five ranking for business with monthly data-driven information on the state’s economic health and prosperity.
The chamber’s push comes after CNBC released its 2025 America’s Top States for Business rankings, which placed Ohio fifth overall.
That is two spots higher than the 2024 rankings.
“While these new rankings aren’t surprising, they are encouraging,” said Steve Stivers, president & CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. “We know Ohio is a great state – we have a low cost of living and a high quality of life, and our GDP is the seventh largest in the country. We’re proud that others are recognizing our potential as a top state for business. We do still have work to do, but our improvement this year shows that we’re certainly on the right track.”
Piggybacking on the rankings, Stivers said the chamber plans to release a monthly chart showing data-driven measurables on the state’s economic health and potential growth.
The chamber has also published a 40-page book of economic charts that will be given to policymakers.
CNBC ranked Ohio first in infrastructure, up from 13th last year. Infrastructure now includes how states handle companies’ power and data needs.
Ohio also ranked in the top 10 in four other categories, including second in cost of doing business, sixth in technology and innovation and seventh in both access to capital and cost of living.
The state also struggled in several areas, finishing in the 20s for economy, business friendliness and education. It ranked 31st for workforce.
Secretary of State Frank LaRose also praised the new ranking, saying nearly 100,000 new business filings in 2025 is one of the strongest starts in state history.
“This ranking not only proves we’re open for business in Ohio but also that we’re doing it right,” LaRose said. “Our office serves as the starting point for every new business in this state, and we’re now among the top five pro-business states in the nation, in part, because of the work we’ve done to help job creators get started more efficiently, affordably and sustainably than ever before.”