Columbus corporate relocation

 

The Schenk company can oversee all the steps of the relocation coordinating all the different people that are involved from move managers and different vendors whether it’s across town or across the country.

Columbus Corporate Relocation: A Pragmatic Guide from Greg Schenk, Exclusive Tenant Rep

Goal: help your team decide if, where, and how to relocate or expand in Central Ohio with the least risk and the best total cost of occupancy. As an independent Columbus commercial relocation advisor and the founder of The Schenk Company, I represent tenants and buyers only—zero conflicts—so you get objective advice from scouting to signed lease or purchase (credentials).

Why Columbus for Corporate Relocation

  • Fast-growing, affordable metro: The Columbus MSA is estimated at 2,225,377 people (2024), up 4.0% since 2020 (U.S. Census / MORPC analysis) (MORPC, Aug 2025).
  • National connectivity: John Glenn Columbus International (CMH) handled 9.2M passengers in 2024 with 50+ nonstop destinations (CMH, Jan 2025).
  • Cost advantage: Overall cost of living is ~5% below U.S. average, with housing costs below national norms—helpful for talent attraction and salary bands (PayScale; Salary.com).
  • Strategic location: Direct access to I-70/I-71 with the I-270 “Outerbelt” loop encircling the metro for rapid cross-town moves (ODOT / I-270; ODOT I-70/71).

Local Snapshot (What Executives Ask First)

  • Talent pipeline: The Ohio State University reports record enrollment with ~60,000+ students on the Columbus campus (2024-25) (OSU News; OSU Statistical Summary).
  • Industry momentum: Central Ohio is branding as the “Silicon Heartland,” anchored by large-scale investments across semiconductors, data centers, defense, and EV supply chain (Columbus Region).
  • Air cargo & global reach: Rickenbacker International (LCK) supports global freight alongside CMH passenger growth (CMH/LCK 2024 Review).

A Bit of History & Identity

Columbus was planned in 1812 as Ohio’s political center and became the state capital in 1816. Canals, the National Road, then rail transformed it into a logistics and commercial hub—roots you still feel in today’s workforce and transportation grid (Britannica).

Business Climate, Incentives & Taxes

What Companies Are Building Here (and What It Means for You)

  • Anduril Industries announced a 4,000-job advanced manufacturing campus near LCK, targeting production by mid-2026 (AP News).
  • AWS increased Ohio data center commitments to $23B by 2030, supporting AI workloads and tech hiring (Business Insider).
  • Intel Ohio remains a long-horizon anchor, though timelines have shifted; prudent occupiers plan for staged growth and flexible options (The Guardian).
  • EV supply chain: Honda/LG battery plant is slated to employ ~2,200 when production begins (late 2025 target) (NAIOP Market Share).

Takeaway: This mix supports office, tech, R&D, and advanced manufacturing occupiers. It also creates submarket imbalances we can exploit—e.g., negotiating improvement allowances and rent schedules as landlords chase credit tenants.

Where Companies Land (by Use Case)

  • HQ/Client-facing office: Downtown, Short North, Arena District, Polaris—proximity to amenities and executive neighborhoods.
  • Tech & R&D: New Albany (Intel/AWS gravity), Dublin (Class-A campuses), Upper Arlington (OSU adjacency).
  • Logistics/Light industrial: Rickenbacker Global Logistics Park and I-70/I-71 corridors for multi-market distribution.

Schools & Education (for Executives Relocating Families)

Public districts frequently shortlisted by relocating families (verify fit by program and attendance zones):

Tip: We align office siting with leadership commute patterns and favored districts to improve retention and relocation acceptance. I’ll also brief HR on enrollment timelines and boundary nuances.

Quality of Life: What Your Team Will Experience

  • Air access: 50+ nonstop routes; record passenger volume improves service frequency (CMH).
  • Dining, arts, neighborhoods: Short North arts district, German Village, Easton Town Center, Scioto Mile parks (multiple national features; strong visitor buzz) (e.g., People, 2025).
  • Everyday affordability: consistent cost advantage vs. U.S. averages (PayScale).

“We moved a 70-person team from the coasts. Columbus gave us Midwestern reliability, national air access, and real savings on space and salaries—without sacrificing talent.”
—Columbus resident & operations lead (client interview summary)

How I Lead an Independent Columbus Commercial Relocation (Process & Deliverables)

  1. Business case & labor mapping: target commute sheds; overlay leadership addresses, school districts, and candidate pools (OSU, regional schools).
  2. Scenario modeling: lease vs. buy vs. build-to-suit; TI amortization; operating expense forecasts; expansion rights; sublease strategies.
  3. Market sweep (zero-conflict): I canvass all landlords and developers; you get the full picture—no steering. This is what “Columbus commercial relocation company” service should mean.
  4. Shortlist tours & RFPs: side-by-side comparables, test-fits, capex, build schedules, and risk flags (permits, utilities, supply chain).
  5. Negotiate & de-risk: rent/TI, termination and contraction rights, renewal structures, operating expense caps, casualty/force majeure updates.
  6. Aftercare: landlord compliance, options tracking, and periodic portfolio reviews as your headcount evolves.

Risks & Realities (What to Plan For)

  • Mega-project timing: Intel’s Ohio timeline has shifted; don’t peg space or labor assumptions to unconfirmed dates. Use phased occupancy and flexible rights (reporting, Mar 2025).
  • Power and infrastructure: Rapid data center growth increases power planning complexity; we confirm capacity, redundancy, and lead times early (BI, 2024).
  • Construction markets: TI schedules depend on permitting and trades availability; we pre-qualify GC partners and lock pricing windows.

Schools, Neighborhoods & Recruiting: Practical Tips

  • Offer candidates a district-aware relocation packet linking to Dublin, Olentangy, Upper Arlington, and New Albany resources (plus Columbus City Schools).
  • Map amenities your hires care about (youth sports, trails, arts, air travel) alongside the commute from candidate neighborhoods.
  • Promote flexibility (hybrid desk ratios, shared parking) to widen the radius of viable hires.

FAQ: Will this page help you make a decision?

  • Original analysis? Yes—this synthesizes incentives, infrastructure, and live market dynamics into an action plan tailored for occupiers.
  • Comprehensive? We cover demographics, costs, access, incentives, education, submarkets, and risks—with linked sources for verification.
  • Trust & expertise? I’ve represented tenants/buyers exclusively for decades in Central Ohio and nationally (bio; service overview; client testimonials).

Next Step: Talk to an Independent Columbus Commercial Relocation Advisor

If you’re considering a Columbus corporate relocation, let’s pressure-test the business case and build a right-sized shortlist. Contact Greg to coordinate a discovery call and data request list—she’ll get you on my calendar and share our relocation checklist.

Contact Gregory »