While Ohio works to live up to the idea it is becoming “the tech capital of the Midwest,” as Lt. Gov. Jon Husted put it, one company is certainly doing its share to help. Google officials announced Monday the company is expanding to build three new data centers — in New Albany, Columbus and Lancaster — in what amounts to another $1.7 billion investment.

“Ohio is establishing itself as a premier destination for technology investment,” Husted said, according to a report by the Ohio Capital Journal.

What does that mean for Ohioans?

Google vice president of public policy Mark Isakowitz said the data centers will employ approximately 1,200 people during construction … but that the permanent staff will be approximately 200 employees. And, while Lancaster may be a little closer for some to being “within commuting distance” as Gov. Mike DeWine predicted in this year’s State of the State Address, those living outside the center of the state remain largely out of luck.

“The next generation will no longer have to pack up and move to one of the coastal states to land a high paying tech job,” U.S. Rep. Troy Balderson, R-Ohio 12th District, said. “Instead, Ohio will be their new opportunity.”

Perhaps. But those already living in Ohio still have to pack up and move to somewhere near the capital if they want one of those jobs.

“We will make an unprecedented $2.5 billion investment to prepare the infrastructure of large economic development sites located in every single part of Ohio,” DeWine said back in January. “With the development of these sites, every single Ohio citizen will be within commuting distance of at least one of these sites.”

Perhaps folks still are working on them behind the scenes, and ongoing conversations will lead to announcements regarding more widely scattered sites. But in the meantime, Google’s announced expansion — while it is, of course, welcomed news — serves to reinforce the lament that Ohio may be the tech capital of the Midwest, but Columbus is still the tech (and jobs) capital of Ohio.

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