Business leaders gather in Dayton to map economic trajectory
DAYTON — Regional business leaders and economic development officials converged Wednesday at Carillon Historical Park for an economic forum hosted by the Dayton Development Coalition, laying out recent gains and persistent obstacles as the Miami Valley and Ohio seek sustained growth.
The event featured an update from the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and presentations on topics that local employers say influence where workers choose to live and work: healthcare access, childcare, housing and the expanding role of data centers in the state's economy. Organizers framed the discussion around both regional performance and a statewide “Blueprint for Ohio's Economic Future.”
Job gains, targets and lingering gaps
Speakers highlighted measurable gains in employment in the Dayton region alongside broader goals for Ohio’s economy. The Dayton Development Coalition said the region it serves has produced 50,000 jobs since 2011. Officials also referenced a recovery period that included a significant job loss less than 15 years ago.
"The growth that's happening in this Dayton region from less than 15 years ago when we had lost 30,000 jobs to Wright-Patt doubling the ten sectors that we're working in—we're up to over 15,000 jobs there," said DDC President & CEO Jeff Hoagland. "We're not stopping. We need to put our foot on the gas, keep it on, and keep moving this region forward."
In addition to regional job totals, presenters relayed the Chamber's macroeconomic target for the state: an annual three percent GDP growth going forward. Panelists said reaching that pace would require addressing infrastructure and workforce-support issues that shape employer decisions and worker participation.
Childcare and housing: barriers to workforce participation
Data presented at the forum underscored how non-wage factors affect labor supply. The Chamber shared that 70 percent of parents with young children reported missing work or school in the past three months because of childcare issues. Forum speakers warned that availability and affordability of childcare—and of housing—could influence whether employers can recruit and retain workers.
- Childcare: High incidence of missed work among parents, stressing employers and productivity.
- Housing: Limited housing supply seen as a deterrent to workforce mobility and company recruitment.
- Healthcare: Access concerns identified as part of the state blueprint’s priorities.
Implications for Dayton and the Miami Valley
For Dayton, the forum offered both a progress report and a policy agenda. The job creation figures suggest momentum in sectors tied to regional anchors such as Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, which speakers linked to strong gains across several industry clusters. Yet the childcare and housing data point to persistent gaps that could blunt growth if left unaddressed.
Economic development officials said the Miami Valley must continue to coordinate public and private investments — from workforce training and childcare supports to housing development — to convert job openings into sustainable employment and broader prosperity. The forum served as a networking venue as well as a platform for aligning strategies between the DDC, statewide organizations and local businesses.
Where the state and region go from here
Organizers left attendees with a twofold message: preserve the momentum that produced tens of thousands of jobs since 2011, and intensify efforts to resolve bottlenecks that limit labor force participation. The Chamber’s 3 percent GDP goal frames the statewide challenge; local leaders at Wednesday’s forum emphasized that meeting it will require targeted action across the Miami Valley.
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Jobs created in the region since 2011 | 50,000 |
| Parents missing work due to childcare (past 3 months) | 70% |
| State GDP annual growth goal | 3% |
Officials signaled future forums and collaborative projects to translate the blueprint into local actions — from expanding childcare capacity to aligning housing development with employer needs. For Dayton, the stakes are local jobs today and the region’s competitiveness in Ohio’s broader economic plan tomorrow.
