When companies and corporate site selectors unfold their maps and start calculating shipping costs and delivery times, something remarkable happens: Our region keeps rising to the top of their lists. Not by accident, but by geography.

The Lake to River region — spanning Ashtabula, Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana counties — sits at the intersection of some of America’s most vital transportation networks. We’re positioned where highways, waterways, railways and airways converge to create what logistics professionals call a “sweet spot.”

It’s why companies like Kimberly Clark, HomeGoods, Anderson DuBose and others choose to invest hundreds of millions of dollars here, and why we’re actively working with 29 competitive project opportunities right now.

Our strategic location isn’t just a nice talking point. It’s our competitive edge in a global economy where every mile matters.

Draw a 300-mile radius around our region and you’ll capture two-thirds of the United States population and tremendous buying power. That means a company based here can reach major markets like New York, Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Cleveland all within a day’s drive. For manufacturers and distributors, this translates directly to their bottom line through reduced shipping costs and faster delivery times.

Proximity to markets is just the beginning. Our region offers something many other locations can’t: multiple modes of transportation working together seamlessly.

Take our deep-water ports. We have four of them — two along Lake Erie in Ashtabula County and two along the Ohio River in Columbiana County. These local assets are gateways to global markets.

Ships can carry goods from our ports north through the Great Lakes to Canada and European destinations, or south through the Ohio River system to the Mississippi River and global markets through the Gulf of America.

Our rail network tells an equally compelling story. We’re served by two major rail lines — Norfolk Southern and CSX — plus five short lines that connect local businesses to national and international shipping networks.

At one point in its history, the General Motors Lordstown plant drew its workforce from up to nine states, with employees commuting in weekly because our ease-of-access made it practical. That’s the kind of reach our infrastructure enables.

BEYOND MOVING GOODS

While we often focus on how infrastructure moves products, it’s equally important for moving people. Our highway system allows for shipping efficiency as well as connecting workers to opportunity. Employees can live in one county and work in another without the crushing commutes that plague many metropolitan areas. Out-of-town executives can fly into Cleveland, Akron or Pittsburgh and be at their facility within an hour.

This connectivity has attracted companies across multiple sectors, from traditional manufacturing to high-tech distribution. The Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, surrounded by abundant developable land, also represents untapped potential for logistics and aerospace companies.

Our region’s logistics infrastructure is strong, and it has capacity. For companies looking to avoid the bottlenecks that plague major metropolitan shipping hubs, that’s a significant advantage for us.

Rail and water transportation can often be less expensive than trucking, especially for bulk goods or long-distance shipping. A company that switches from truck-only shipping to utilizing our rail and port infrastructure can potentially save millions annually. That’s money that goes straight to their bottom line and makes them more competitive in their markets.

INVESTMENT PAYS DIVIDENDS

Our region’s logistic advantages didn’t happen by accident. They’re the result of decades of infrastructure investment by multiple generations of leaders who understood that connectivity drives prosperity. Today, we continue that tradition through strategic partnerships among Lake to River, local governments, port authorities and private-sector partners.

Infrastructure upgrades have enhanced rail capacity and improved port access. We work closely with rail providers to ensure continued service and expansion where needed. In the past, we have been able to support the retention of regional rail lines and investments by mainline and short line carriers to ensure that our available industrial sites remain competitive and attractive to potential rail users.

LAKE TO RIVER’S ROLE

As the lead economic development agency for this four-county region, Lake to River serves as the bridge between companies seeking strategic locations and the infrastructure that makes success possible. And we go beyond simply marketing our assets. We help companies understand how to leverage them most effectively.

When an international company recently inquired about shipping costs and logistics options, we assembled detailed information about rail access, port services and transportation costs specific to their needs. That’s the kind of customized support that turns inquiries into investments. Whether it’s rail, air or water port providers, all play a vital role in our regional attraction efforts.

The companies that thrive in the 21st century economy will be those that can move goods and people efficiently while keeping costs competitive. Our region offers the combination of strategic location, multimodal infrastructure and cost-effectiveness that businesses are seeking.

Every day, we help companies discover that our competitive advantage isn’t just about where we are on the map, but how all the pieces of our infrastructure work together to create opportunity.

Sarah Boyarko is the vice president of economic development for Lake to River.