Deja vu. Yesterday THE PLAIN DEALER reporter Henry Gomez chronicled Northeast Ohio's tale of new misses in become a regional center for high-tech industries. These close calls with lucrative economic development have been going on for 18 years. And, says Gomez, "some are growing restless."
Less than 2 weeks ago, THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL reporter Lynn Arditi chronicled how Rhode Island has also missed out on attracting what's called the Technology Fast 500 Companies. Arditi cites the recent Deloitte & Touche survey which shows that so far RI has none of those companies. Massachusetts has 39 of them. Twice MA turned down invitations to join RI in its infamous litigation against the former lead-paint companies. RI also has less than half of MA's job growth.
Today was Black Monday in the Buckeye State. It was the deadline for about 6000 Ford employees to accept or reject Ford's buyout. The smart money is taking the buyout since Ford's prospects aren't rosy.
If OH can learn from another state's mistakes it will back off pursuing any litigation against former lead-paint companies including its own corporate citizen Sherwin-Williams. The risk corporations take very seriously these days is litigation. In selecting a state to build a business in, the risk of litigation could be the tipping point. RI has become synonymous with the RI lead-paint follies.
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