ECONOMY

People in Allen County work hard, but the numbers tell a tough story. Wages lag behind the national average by more than five dollars an hour. Nearly one in four Lima residents lives below the poverty line. Childcare providers have all but disappeared. Affordable housing is out of reach for too many families. And when big corporations come to town, they get 15-year tax breaks while your schools and services pick up the tab. District 78 deserves an economy that works for the people who live here, not just the companies passing through.

Lima workers earn five dollars less per hour than the national average

The average hourly wage in the Lima metro area is $26.05, compared to the national average of $31.48. That is a gap of more than $10,000 a year for a full-time worker. Allen County's unemployment hit 5.7% in mid-2025, and only 58.1% of the working-age population is in the labor force, well below the 62.5% national rate. In the city of Lima itself, nearly one in four residents lives below the poverty line, double the national average. These are not just statistics. They represent families choosing between groceries and gas.

Only 33 affordable rentals for every 100 families who need them

The affordable housing crisis is not just a big-city problem. In Allen County, there are only 33 affordable and available rental units for every 100 extremely low-income households. Statewide, the gap between what Ohio renters earn and what they need to afford a basic two-bedroom apartment has surged 148% since 2020. Ohio is short more than 264,000 affordable rental units overall, and 71% of extremely low-income renters spend more than half their income just on housing. When rent eats that much of a family's paycheck, there is nothing left for savings, emergencies, or building a future.

Ohio loses $5 billion a year because parents cannot find affordable childcare

In Allen County, the number of in-home childcare providers has collapsed from 60 to just 15 in eight years. Across the region, parents who want to work full-time cannot, because there is nowhere safe and affordable to leave their kids. A survey of north-central Ohio parents found that 78% identified price as the primary barrier to childcare, and 61% of parents not working full-time said they would if childcare were affordable. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation estimates Ohio loses $5 billion annually in economic output because of insufficient childcare. This is not just a family issue. It is a workforce issue and an economic development issue.

  • Allen County in-home childcare providers dropped from 60 to 15 in eight years. Hometown Stations, Feb 2026
  • Ohio loses $5 billion annually due to insufficient childcare. 78% of surveyed north-central Ohio parents cite cost as the primary barrier. WOSU, Sept 2025
  • 61% of Ohio parents not working full-time would do so if childcare were more affordable. Childcare workers in Ohio earn roughly $13.57/hour vs. the $15.41 national median. Policy Matters Ohio, Apr 2025

Data centers have claimed $2.5 billion in Ohio tax breaks since 2017

Big tech companies are investing billions in Ohio data centers, but communities are not seeing a fair return. Google is building a $500 million facility in Allen County with a 15-year tax abatement and just 50 permanent jobs. Across the state, data centers have claimed $2.5 billion in tax breaks since 2017. Legislative researchers estimate that repealing the data center sales tax exemption alone would save Ohio $187 million per year. Senate Democrats have introduced bills requiring data centers to pay full infrastructure costs and prove community investment before connecting to the grid, but the majority has not acted.

  • Google's Allen County data center: $500 million investment, 50 jobs, 15-year tax abatement, $250,000/year to Elida schools, $13.6 million in local water infrastructure needed. Hometown Stations, Mar 2026
  • Ohio data centers have claimed $2.5 billion in tax breaks since 2017. Repealing the sales tax exemption would save Ohio $187 million per year. Signal Ohio, Oct 2025
  • Ohio Senate Democrats introduced bills requiring data centers to pay full infrastructure costs and prove community investment. Ohio Capital Journal, Feb 2026

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