COLUMBUS— A new generation of makers is drilling its way into the Ohio economy.
A little bit of sweat, and a lot of sawdust is what drives the creations at Opus Woodworking in southeast Columbus.
- According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, Ohio boasts 944,000 small businesses that employ 2.2 million workers
- Ohio's small businesses make up nearly half of Ohio's private workforce
- The Kauffman Foundation named Columbus the 4th best area in the nation for small businesses to thrive
For carpenter Mel Millimen, this atypical career path has been a rewarding one.
“I get a lot of satisfaction from working with my hands, taking a pile of wood and turning it into something beautiful is probably one of the most satisfying things in my life right now,” said Millimen.
Opus Woodworking owner, Brian Scono says what they’re making here is built to last.
Which, in an era of fast furniture, can be a waning art.
“I like to consider what we do here to be heirloom quality, modern furniture,” said Scono. “Definitely not a throwaway piece, a couple moves and chuck it out. This is something that will last a lifetime and be beautiful for many many years.”
He says customers who buy these pieces are investing in furniture with a future— but they’re also investing in Columbus.
“Helps keep the money in town for one thing. It helps stabilize and fuels a lot of community growth,” said Scono.
“I think people are getting tired of fake stuff,” said Millimen. “I think people are tired of buying things, paying a lot of money for things that aren’t really that valuable, I think that people are tired of sending their money to the richest people in the world, and that money going to other places that aren’t Columbus.”
And that trend is catching.
Back in 2016, the Kauffman Foundation named central Ohio the fourth best area in the nation for a small business to thrive— signaling that in this day in age, you don't need to find the right job for you. You can create it.
“So here in Columbus you have some of the finest craftsmanship you can get, in all different kinds of fields, and that money goes right here to Columbus, Ohio, to people that are working, that actually care about what they’re doing, and what more could you ask for than somebody caring about what you’re giving them money for,” said Millimen.
“I think everyone is a woodworker now. Seems like everyone wants to get their hands dirty and that’s really nice to see,” said Scono.
And this Columbus effect could be spreading.
According to NerdWallet, the best place to start a business in Ohio based off businesses relative to population Is Blue Ash near Cincinnati, followed by Independence and Beachwood in northeast Ohio and Moraine in southwest Ohio.