JobsOhio is the first important step

Published 10:16 am Wednesday, February 9, 2011

This week, the Ohio House passed legislation that allowed for the formation of a non-profit organization to go throughout the state, as well as throughout the country and the world, to create, attract and retain jobs in Ohio.

In the debate of this legislation, there was discussion about Governor Rhodes and how the “Rhodes raiders” went out to find and keep jobs wherever they could find them. He and his cohorts were able to bring Honda to Ohio, for example.

I know that in Jackson County, he brought Jeno Paulucci to Ohio, which has led to thousands of direct and indirect jobs.

I have made calls myself with potential employers and current businesses in an effort to help them hire and keep jobs in Ohio.

I have been surprised to visit obvious targets for expansion in Ohio to learn that I am the first person to talk with them about locating in our great state.

I have also worked with businesses that have become quite frustrated with the Department of Development and their mode of operation in responding to them.

Oftentimes it is not the answer because it cannot be as responsive to our ever-changing market as it needs to be.

The JobsOhio proposal will seek to be the marketing arm of the Department of Development. The vision is to go out and hunt for and assist private job creation.

People are more likely to pay attention to the governor than to me or other government employees. That is why I believe that a lean, aggressive job-creating board of individuals who know firsthand how to create jobs is exactly what this state needs.

We have too many people losing their jobs or have lost their jobs, and it is clear thatwe have to do something differently.

This initial piece of legislation just lays the groundwork for Ohio to aggressively market itself for job creation.

There are those in the statehouse who want to create another government bureaucracy with rules and regulations that will hamper this effort, but we cannot keep doing things the exact same way and expect them to eventually work.

There are details to be worked out, and I am sure the Senate will make improvements to the bill.

Appropriate transparency and accountability are paramount to this legislation, as are efficiency and responsiveness.

There are a few misconceptions about the bill that I would like to clarify.

First of all, the bill does not change in any way the operation of the community development functions in the Department of Development, such as the Housing Trust Fund, Community Development Block Grant and weatherization for example.

It does not change the way taxpayer dollars are spent on economic development or they way they are approved by the Controlling Board.

The legislation appropriates $1 million in existing Department of Development funds to develop a plan to allow more aggressive attempts to create jobs in Ohio and to make recommendations on the other functions of the Department of Development and where they should function.

Those recommendations will be brought back and considered in another piece of legislation and will go through the legislative process with public input.

I also want to say that this change in policy to go out-sell Ohio for new job creation is no reflection of the people who currently work in the Ohio Department of Development.

I have worked with many of them over the years and they have been very helpful.

But just as the world has changed in many ways, this change is something that we need to try to encourage job opportunities for the 87th Ohio District and all of the Buckeye State.

John Carey serves in Ohio’s 87th District of the House of Representatives, which includes eastern Lawrence County. He may be reached at (614) 466-1366 or by writing to: Ohio House of Representatives, 77 South High Street, Columbus, OH 43215. He can also be reached via e-mail at District87@ohr.state.oh.us.