Until recently, the City of Mentor (Ohio) has been a well-kept secret among UK investors seeking to do business in the United States. That is all about to change as you are sure to hear more about this affluent US suburb in the future.

The acquisition of Synergy Health plc (LON:SYR), a Swindon-based provider of sterilisation services in October 2014 by Mentor-based STERIS made international business news. The new company is expected to achieve annual revenues in excess of $2.6 billion upon final approval of the sale.

Another UK-owned company which calls Mentor home is Volk Optical, a subsidiary of Halma plc (LON: HLMA). Volk is the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of ophthalmic lenses for use in diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders.

German-based ACO Polymers recently moved their north east Ohio operations to Mentor due to the attractive investment incentives provided by the city.

And these are only a few examples. Among the nearly 300 firms based in Mentor, no less than a dozen are owned by foreign interests who have discovered that international investment is not only welcomed, but valued.

Mentor is an invested civic partner which offers generous direct financial incentives that lower the cost of doing business through a variety of attractive economic incentives which include tax abatement, tax credits, direct  grants, infrastructure improvements and public financing.

In 2013, the city developed the Mentor International Trade Initiative as a support structure to those companies relocating to Mentor in order to help them maximise the results of their investment. This innovative trade programme provides direct staff assistance on import/export compliance, planning, finance and job training to companies doing business in the city. The programme also offers direct access to NAFTA Trade Partners as well as an available Foreign Trade Zone designation.

Mentor is a manufacturing leader in the state of Ohio with a strong concentration of research and development, engineering and metalworking firms serving the advanced manufacturing, aerospace, polymer and biomedical industry clusters. They also have an established vendor base and distribution network which makes it easier to do business within the area.

The city is strategically located on the shores of Lake Erie approximately 24 miles by road from Cleveland, Ohio which places it within 500 miles of 50% of the US population. The city benefits from a substantial transport infrastructure which includes two major railways, two major interstates and a nearby international airport as well as the deep-water Port of Cleveland.

One key reason that foreign investors are coming to Mentor is that it is less expensive to do business there.  Companies are able to find top-level talent and enjoy significant savings in operating costs due to the low overall cost of living in the area. Rates for professional services can also run as much as 40% below what is found on the east or west coast.

Another element which makes Mentor attractive to foreign investment is that it serves as a gateway to Ohio’s innovation corridor which is home to world class educational, research and medical institutions including Case  Western Reserve University, NASA Glenn Research Center, the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals and the Edison Biotechnology Center.

The city is well positioned with manufacturing capacity which can support industrial investment. Mentor has ten industrial parks and over 3,200 acres zoned for manufacturing use. Available Greenfield sites range from 5 to 50+ acres, in addition to a full range of facilities available for immediate occupancy.

Mentor maintains a skilled and stable workforce. Residents are more highly educated, enjoy a higher median income, and have a higher home ownership rate than both the US and Ohio average. Mentor Public Schools are highly effective and nationally recognised. There are also a number of local technical training facilities dedicated to advanced manufacturing and engineering technology.

Last but not least, Mentor is a beachfront community that provides a great quality of life. It offers affordable housing, scenic natural beauty, diverse outdoor activities, outstanding recreational facilities, as well as good shopping and dining options – not to mention regional attractions which include a world class orchestra, museums, professional sports teams and much more.