Jerod Smalley

1 day ago | nbc4i.com | Jerod Smalley

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Small business is truly big business in Ohio, and while the vast majority of those businesses operate with local customers and local goods, the current economic climate and the threat of tariffs have a real impact on local owners. “Small business owners, like any business, want predictability,” said Roger Geiger, executive director of the Ohio Small Business Council (OSBC).

1 week ago | nbc4i.com | Jerod Smalley

Chad Mark’s thoughts about a career in golf course maintenance are manifested during the week of the Memorial Tournament, the annual national showcase for Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin. Mark serves as the Director of Grounds at the Club, which means he’s in charge of keeping the course as well-manicured and picturesque as possible. That elite standard, set by founder Jack Nicklaus, requires brutally long hours and meticulous planning. Golf is a sport for early risers.

2 weeks ago | nbc4i.com | Jerod Smalley

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — While local homebuyers are struggling with rising prices, national studies show Ohio still ranks among the most affordable in the U.S. for housing. A new study by WalletHub shows Ohio households spend the fifth lowest percentage of their monthly income on housing—an average of 20%, including utilities. The national high is in Hawaii, where the average is 53%. The average household in Ohio spends an average of $1,183 per month on mortgage and energy payments.

2 weeks ago | nbc4i.com | Jerod Smalley

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Much of the growth conversation around central Ohio focuses on the north and northeast corridors of the city. Licking County, home to the Intel plant, is experiencing rapid growth in the cities surrounding the plant. Delaware County remains Ohio’s fastest growing county, with more than 17,000 residents moving there in the past four years, according to U.S. Census Data. But in other parts of central Ohio, far from the Intel plant, growth is happening at a rapid rate.

3 weeks ago | nbc4i.com | Jerod Smalley

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Affordability and stability. They’re the main selling points for central Ohio in recruiting new residents. But new data shows the Columbus area is struggling with soaring costs and low inventory. According to data from Zillow, the average home price in Columbus five years ago was 160-thousand dollars. Today, it’s more than $246,000, a 54% increase, and an increase of nearly 3% from last year. But that pricing problem is even more pronounced in the surrounding communities.