#17. Columbus
There’s a lot of green in Ohio, and we don’t mean fields. Columbus is leading the way in the state’s new wave of startups, thanks in large part to many large brands headquartered there; it’s relatively close proximity to 125 Fortune 500 companies; the efforts of Governor John Kasich to bring in talent from Silicon Valley; and the presence of THE Ohio State University.
Business Growth (2011-2015): 12%
Employment Growth (2011-2015): 34%