COLUMBUS — Mark Romanchuk was a businessman in Ontario when he decided to run for the Statehouse.
Improving the state’s business climate was a oft-used mantra in his successful campaigns, initially for the Ohio House and then the Ohio Senate.
The 63-year-old hailed a study announced Thursday by CNBC that said the Buckeye State was the “Top State for Business” in the nation.
“By continuing to focus on deregulation and creating a competitive economic environment, Ohio is now a powerhouse for business,” Romanchuk said.
Romanchuk has nearly 40 of experience in small business, systems engineering and management, and community development.
He is the owner and CEO of PR Machine Works, Inc., a contract manufacturer providing precision machining, fabrication, and assembly services in the city of Ontario.
“Fostering business opportunity in Ohio has been a priority since I first ran for office, and I’m proud to see our state recognized for its business competitiveness. I look forward to continuing to pursue policies that make Ohio the best place to work, live and raise a family,” he said.
Romanchuk, whose 22nd District includes Richland, Ashland and Medina counties, was re-elected to a second, four-year in the Ohio Senate in 2024. Term limits will prevent him from running again.
Prior to winning a Senate seat, he won election to the Ohio House four times, representing Richland County.
Since 2007, CNBC has scored all 50 states on 138 metrics in 10 broad categories of competitiveness.
CNBC is an acronym for the Consumer News and Business Channel, a business and financial news network operated by NBCUniversal.
The study focuses on identifying the factors companies consider when making site selection decisions and where states are focusing their economic development efforts to win jobs and business.
In addition to being ranked as the No. 1 overall state, Ohio also took the top spot in infrastructure, as well as in the cost of doing business.
CNB said it’s the “pinnacle of a long climb for the Buckeye State, once considered the buckle of the Rust Belt.”
Ohio finished 30th in the inaugural CNBC study in 2007.
“We’ve been strategically focused on making Ohio literally the go-to state for business,” said Gov. Mike DeWine in his State of the State address in March.
Ohio broke into the top five in CNBC’s rankings for the first time last year. This year, the 20th year of the annual study, the competitive environment plays to the state’s biggest strengths, CNBC said.