> What if they put that money into better technical education facilities, or tax credits for Ohio residents paying off student loans. Increasing services so that people working remotely will want to come.
Well, a few issues. This is money that has to be collected and spent - more taxes or a change in the budget. Not collecting taxes on new construction isn't money the state has to spend, it's just money it isn't collecting. The alternative, at least in this case is that this factory just isn't built in Ohio. It wouldn't affect doing other things to attract residents. Frankly, I think we should create large-scale corporate subsidies to relocate jobs to the state. If you build your facility or office here, no corporate tax on that entity. More jobs and more money and revenue from other taxes will be enough.
> I feel like a place with a low cost of living that attracts highly talented people for a variety of reasons is a better long term investment than a treadmill factory.
Well, the cost of living isn't all that low, and where it is low no talented person without connections to the state wants to live here. Why live in Ohio when you have the exact same thing almost everywhere else in the country, from Oklahoma to Iowa, to Indiana to Michigan. There aren't many unique reasons to locate a business here, unfortunately. There are plenty of talented people here, though many leave for other locations.
> If I was looking to open a satellite office, I can tell you that proximity to a treadmill factory is pretty low on the list.
Sure, but you're also generally not opening a satellite office here unless you have a very good reason, and that reason would have nothing to do with the existence of a treadmill factory. In other words, Ohio is very low on your list, so if you have a reason for being here it's a very good one that this won't affect.
> Tax breaks like this are tactical, state and city governments need to be strategic. While tactics like tax breaks can be part of a strategy, it doesn't seem to be a great one since it doesn't build "moats", and all it takes to be defeated is the next state over offering something slightly better. Ohio of all places should know that manufacturing facilities can be closed on short notice for reasons they have no control over.
Yes. We should grow a coastline, build some mountains and ski resorts, and have great weather instead.
I agree that state and city governments need to be strategic, but you're paining a mutually exclusive picture where one doesn't exist.
Personally I think the only thing we can do is create walkable neighborhoods with mixed-use development - make Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and other towns and cities more like places in Europe where people would actually want to live. Otherwise Ohio is pretty indistinguishable from most of the country.