Excerpt from Greater Dayton Relocation & Newcomer Guide
Known as the birthplace of aviation, Dayton’s history of innovation and development stretches back to the early 20th century. Having been home to a strong manufacturing industry before declining in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the economy of the area has changed significantly. Make no mistake, though, Dayton is not just a city of Rust Belt memories. Today it has a dynamic economy, making it a hub for logistics and an up-and-coming destination for technology companies.
The city of Dayton identifies five main industries that make up the area’s economy, including aerospace R&D. This industry is bolstered by the Wright Patterson Air Force Base just outside the city limits. Employing roughly 38,000 people, the base is home to many of the U.S. Air Force’s logistics, supply and research efforts. Additional companies helping drive this important sector of the economy include Dayton Aerospace Inc. and Dayton Precision Aerospace, among others.
Other major employees in the area include many health care companies. Premier Health and Kettering Health employ over 25,000 people together, while also making sure that the area stays healthy. Information technology, also one of the five industries central to the Dayton economy, is represented by LexisNexis, a data analytics company based in New York, and Net X IT Solutions.
In addition to those industries, many manufacturing companies still have a strong presence in the area. Companies like Honda of America still employ thousands across the region. Moreover, corporations like Fuyao moved into the former General Motors plant in the Dayton suburb of Moraine, helping fill the space left by the automotive company. Other companies helping Dayton stay true to its manufacturing past while keeping its present population employed include Cleveland-Cliffs, Whirlpool Corporation and KTH Parts Industry.
Rounding out the top five of the area’s most important industries is water, reflected in Dayton’s strong water system. Beyond those important industries, Dayton is home to multiple companies with annual revenue equaling more than a billion dollars. Winsupply Inc.’s 2023 revenue was $7.4 billion—a 5.7% increase from the year before—making it the highest-earning company in the area.
In addition to the current companies that are driving the economy in the area, the Dayton area is poised for business growth. This summer, Westrafo America, a privately held Italian electromechanical and electrical transformer manufacturer, will start constructing its 231,000-square-foot site, creating with it 230 new jobs and producing Westrafo’s medium and high-voltage transformers and renewable energy systems. Bolstering Dayton’s information technology sector even further is Accelevation. The company has opened a new $26 million facility at First Flight Commerce Center, located in Miami Township, and is planning to expand at another 300,000-square foot second loation.
What’s more, organizations like the Downtown Dayton Partnership and The Hub, among others, are looking to bring more companies into the region, strengthening the economy and creating opportunities in the area for the decades to come.
