Commerce Ecosystem

Doing business in Miami County and Southwest Ohio is offers opportunity you can’t find in other regions. Compared to coastal markets such as Los Angeles and New York, the costs of doing business in Miami County and the greater Dayton metro region are dramatically lower and perform better than peer regions. U.S. News and World Report also ranks our region among the nation’s 100 best places to live and retire, thanks to a variety of factors that include the job market, economy and low cost of living. 

Market Access

Locating in Miami County means that your enterprise is within a day’s drive of 53 percent of North America’s population and 60 percent of North America’s manufacturing. Thanks to a combination of highway, air, rail and intermodal access, Miami County offers unparalleled access to the world’s markets.

• Highways - Miami County is located at the intersection of Interstates 70 and 75, with several large population centers (Indianapolis, Chicago, Detroit, Columbus, Pittsburgh) around three hours away or less. 
• Air – Miami County borders the Dayton International Airport, a facility with a 90-minute air market that reaches more than 137 million people and over half the combined population of the U.S. and Canada. The airport also offers twice-a-day service to five metro areas, plus 300 towns and large cities.
• Rail & Intermodal – Miami County is serviced by the CSX rail system, while access to the Norfolk Southern rail system is available in two neighboring counties. 
• Intermodal – Miami County is centrally located between two CSX intermodal facilities (the Northwest Ohio Terminal Facility in Toledo and the Columbus Terminal) and one Norfolk Southern terminal located at the Rickenbacker Global Logistics Park in Columbus. 

Industry Clusters & Expertise

Across Miami County and the Miami Valley region, businesses are building momentum and have established a thriving ecosystem for industry clusters that include aerospace and defense research and manufacturing, logistics and distribution, automotive manufacturing, building products manufacturing and distribution, and agriculture, food processing and food equipment production. 

• Aerospace & Defense - First established as a center of aerospace development thanks to innovations from Orville and Wilbur Wright, the greater Dayton region has remained central to aerospace and defense research and manufacturing ever since. Today, our region’s aerospace businesses have the ability to work with the Air Force Research Laboratory and local universities to continue aerospace innovation. In Miami County, Hartzell Propeller and Collins Aerospace have centers of operation. 
• Agriculture, Food Processing & Food Equipment – From farm to plate, Miami County is home businesses focused on feeding the world. Fertile soil and abundant rainfall make western Ohio an ideal farming location, while the area’s manufacturing expertise has nurtured both professional food equipment manufacturing and food production. Hobart, the brand known for commercial kitchen equipment, is headquartered in Troy and ConAgra Foods operates a facility the produces all the company’s Slim Jim brand snack foods. 
• Automotive – The Dayton region has been central to auto manufacturing since the invention of the electric car starter, and that tradition continues to this day in Miami County. F&P America Manufacturing, a tier-one supplier to General Motors, Honda and Toyota, is located in Troy, and American Honda Motor Co. located an engine plant in Anna, just north of the Miami County border.
• Building Products – To create products that make buildings more beautiful, comfortable, and efficient, manufacturers have turned to Miami County’s skilled labor force decade after decade. Clopay Corporation, one the nation’s leading manufacturers of commercial and residential garage doors and entry doors, operates two manufacturing facilities in Miami County, and DAP Products Inc., a manufacturer of building product caulks, sealants and adhesives    
• Logistics & Distribution – Miami County offers logistics and distribution operations accessible multimodal infrastructure that ensures agility, adaptability and alignment for their operations. Between our highways, rail and airport facilities, local businesses have unparalleled access to markets. It’s why Meijer Stores and American Honda Motor Co. have both located distribution facilities in Miami County.