I spent the first 18 years of my life in a suburb outside of Cleveland and the majority of the last 10 years in Columbus. I always thought after graduating from The Ohio State University I would move to a bigger city like New York, LA, or Chicago. However, so much as changed, particularly in Columbus and there are opportunities to get in on at the ground floor. As much as I love visiting a city like New York, Columbus is starting to feel more and more like home and here are a few reasons why:
1. Real Growth – People are moving to Columbus. The population has grown to make Columbus the second biggest city in the Midwest after Chicago. With The Ohio State University, employers have access to plenty of young talent.
2. Fashion, Food, and Art Scene – After New York and Los Angeles, Columbus is home to more fashion designers than any other U.S. metropolis. The restaurant and dining scene is on fire and doesn’t seem to be slowing down. You have places like Hot Chicken Takeover and FUSIAN changing the fast-casual scene and restaurants like Standard Hall, Pint House, and Forno that cater to young professionals and know how to create a vibrant atmosphere, along with excellent food and drinks. If you’re into contemporary art like me, you won’t be disappointed with the Columbus Museum of Art, the Wexner Center, and the Pizzuti Collection.
3. Entrepreneurship Culture – it’s still very early, but the culture in Columbus is becoming more entrepreneurial every day. Since moving back, accelerators like Fintech71 have been created. The city recently also received a federal smart city grant that will hopefully spark innovative technologies into transportation and beyond. Then there are venture capital firms like LOUD Capital, Drive, and Rev1 helping create the city’s new generation of entrepreneurs. Last but not least, Columbus has some of the smartest ‘makers’ at the Idea Foundry building cutting edge technology. Definitely worth taking a tour:)
I’m excited and optimistic to see what the future holds for Columbus.
