Columbus is experiencing record expansion, but growth brings complexity.
Derrick R. Clay is president and CEO of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce.
As we close out the year, it is clear the Columbus region stands at the edge of a transformative moment.
The pace of growth, the scale of investment, and the ambition of the business community have created an inflection point where decisions made today will shape the region’s competitive strength for years to come.
But growth does not happen in isolation. It happens when businesses, leaders, and communities work together with intention.
The Columbus region succeeds because progress is driven by collaboration, shared leadership, and alignment around what matters most to the businesses that power our economy.
Over the past year, that approach has delivered results.
Employers across industries are strengthening talent pipelines, expanding access to opportunity, and investing in innovation. Small businesses are finding new pathways to scale. Industry leaders are engaging more actively in conversations that influence policy, infrastructure, and long-term competitiveness. These efforts are producing measurable outcomes for the regional economy.
Columbus’ momentum is accelerating
Major investments continue to reshape Columbus and reinforce confidence in the market.
The expansion of John Glenn International Airport is enhancing global connectivity and positioning the region for continued growth. Transformational private-sector investments such as Anduril signal that Columbus is a place where advanced manufacturing and innovation can thrive.
Life sciences leaders including Amgen, through its advanced manufacturing facility, and Pharmavite, through its state-of-the-art manufacturing and research and development facility, are strengthening the region’s position at the intersection of health, science, and technology.
Workforce investment is gaining momentum
Anheuser-Busch is expanding its commitment to workforce development in Columbus with the launch of its first regional Technical Excellence Center. Investments like this underscore a critical truth. Sustainable growth depends on people. Building skills, creating opportunity, and preparing the workforce of tomorrow must move in step with capital investment.
Regional initiatives such as LinkUS are helping ensure growth is connected and inclusive by improving mobility, access to jobs, and connectivity across communities. At the same time, continued technology and data center expansion by companies including Google and Meta reinforces Columbus’ role in powering the digital economy and supporting industries that rely on scale and reliability.
This momentum extends beyond traditional sectors. The arrival of the Columbus Aviators United Football League franchise reflects growing national attention and confidence in the region as a destination for talent, investment, and quality of life. It is another signal that Columbus is gaining visibility not only as a place to do business, but as a place to build and belong.
What Columbus needs to continue record grow
What matters most now is how the region leads through this moment.
Growth of this magnitude requires coordination among businesses, educators, policymakers, and community partners. It demands data-driven insight to navigate complexity, advocacy that reflects the realities employers face, and a willingness to convene leaders around shared challenges and opportunities.
As the region moves into 2026, bold leadership will be essential.
Columbus is experiencing record expansion, but growth brings complexity. Businesses are navigating a changing workforce, new pressures on infrastructure, and an economic environment that requires both agility and foresight.
That is why the Columbus Chamber is strengthening its advocacy efforts, expanding research and data capabilities, and deepening its role as a convener of leaders working to solve challenges that cannot be addressed alone.
The region’s next chapter will reward those willing to think boldly. Leaders who push for smarter workforce strategies. Companies that embrace innovation and partnership. Organizations that understand progress is not driven by a single industry or institution, but by the combined effort of many.
As the region looks ahead, there is reason for optimism. Not because the challenges are small, but because collaboration has repeatedly proven to be the Columbus Region’s competitive advantage. When leaders align around shared goals, bring every sector to the table, and choose to lead rather than react, they create the conditions for long-term prosperity.
That leadership must also recognize a simple truth. A strong economy depends on healthy people. The Columbus Region cannot be its best business community without prioritizing the well-being of the workforce, leaders, and entrepreneurs who power it. Supporting mental health, resilience, and balance is not separate from economic growth. It is essential to sustaining it.
The year ahead holds extraordinary promise. Together, the region will continue strengthening the foundation of its economy by convening the people and partners who drive business culture, navigating challenges and opportunities alongside employers, and advocating for the resources and policies that ensure every business can grow and every worker has the support to succeed.
It is the power of all of us that will define what comes next.
Derrick R. Clay is president and CEO of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, where he advances prosperity across the Columbus Region by convening business leaders, expanding access to resources, and advocating for a strong, inclusive economy. A long-time Columbus resident and respected civic leader, he brings a collaborative, forward-looking approach to strengthening the region’s business community and shaping its future.
