By 1808Delaware
When Governor Mike DeWine stopped in Lewis Center for the Ohio Business Roundtable CEO Summit, the conversation wasn’t just about meeting business leaders. It became the stage for a major announcement that could shape Ohio’s economic direction for years to come.
A $100 Million Bet on Energy
DeWine and JobsOhio introduced the JobsOhio Energy Opportunity Initiative, a five-year, $100 million fund designed to help companies manage the steep costs tied to natural gas and nuclear power. The idea is straightforward: if Ohio wants to keep growing, it needs to make sure the energy behind that growth is reliable and affordable.
“We must focus on energy,” DeWine said. “Ohio must have an energy policy that ensures we have the supply we need for current and future demand.”
The initiative will provide grants and low-interest loans, with support aimed at:
- Engineering and construction for new and existing natural gas systems
- Site work for small modular nuclear reactors
- Workforce training and the creation of a nuclear energy center of excellence
- Incentives to attract companies in the SMR supply chain
JobsOhio and its regional partners will start identifying projects that could tap into this funding. The goal is to use the initiative to bolster both business attraction and expansion across the state.
Why Energy Matters Now
Energy demand is rising nationwide. Ohio has leaned on abundant natural gas reserves for more than a decade, drawing more than $111 billion in shale-related investment since 2011. At the same time, states without similar resources are racing ahead with newer nuclear technologies such as small modular reactors.
Ohio’s message is that it needs both. Natural gas remains a powerhouse, but SMRs represent a different kind of opportunity—higher-tech, long-term, and tied closely to advanced manufacturing and skilled labor.
“Ohio is powering America’s energy story,” said JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef. He pointed to the state’s shale sector, infrastructure, and workforce as building blocks for what he called the nation’s rising “Energy Super Sector.”
Pat Tiberi of the Ohio Business Roundtable echoed that view, framing the new initiative as a chance for Ohio to lead globally in energy generation and innovation. In his words, “energy is the foundation of economic success.”
Recent Signals of Momentum
This announcement didn’t come out of nowhere. It follows two major energy-related developments in Ohio: a major expansion at the Centrus uranium enrichment plant in Piketon and the opening of an energy-related manufacturing facility in Trotwood. Centrus CEO Amir Vexler called energy investment “the enabler for businesses to prosper.”
Ohio also earned a Top 5 ranking in CNBC’s latest list of best states for doing business, including top marks for public-private infrastructure investment.
What It Means for Central Ohio
The launch in Delaware County wasn’t accidental. The Lewis Center corridor has become a crossroads for growth—not just in population and industry but in the state’s broader economic strategy.
If JobsOhio can turn these funds into real-world projects, the region could see new construction, new training pathways, and new employers tied to the energy sector. But it will take more than money. Many of these areas—particularly SMRs—are expensive, complex, and long-term by nature. The initiative helps with costs, but companies will still need clear timelines, predictable regulation, and a workforce ready to take on advanced technical roles.
In other words: the announcement is ambitious, but whether it reaches its potential depends on what happens next.
Image by Sergey Gorbachev from Pixabay
