Hej! I’m a Graphik Designer and Illustrator but more important I'm Mark Stephenson.

In reviewing the past year’s results, the Regional Growth Partnership views 2021 as a success. Despite the national and global constraints, Northwest Ohio realized many achievements in attracting new business, new jobs and new investment to this region. Rightfully, we want to celebrate and recognize those successes. And this report is intended to highlight those wins across our 17-county region. Please enjoy this interactive annual report and share freely. For the RGP, we’re already focusing on “what’s next” to help grow this region.

Since this organization’s establishment more than 25 years ago, the Regional Growth Partnership has moved through multiple iterations in a continuous effort to best serve the Northwest Ohio region. At its inception, the RGP was created as one of the first, true regional economic development groups nationally. Today, regionalism is standard practice. Then in 2005, the RGP became a 100% privately funded organization. That has proven to be a competitive advantage and significant differentiator in our business attraction efforts.

Now, the RGP is adding a new focus to its strategic mission by addressing the critical issue of workforce and talent attraction. Along with our partners across Northwest Ohio, we understand workforce shortages are crippling businesses. We understand the need to better align training with the needs of business, as well as the need to attract new talent into this region. While this issue is certainly not new, moving additional resources into this arena does mark a new chapter for the RGP. You’ll certainly be hearing much more from us in the coming months as we strive to develop meaningful solutions.