State Development Director Johnson Outlines Taft Job Agenda
Provides keynote speech for Hamilton Chamber of Commerce Breakfast

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 6, 2004

Columbus, OH -- During a speech in front of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Forecast Breakfast, Ohio Development Director Bruce Johnson outlined Governor Bob Taft’s proposed jobs agenda and how it could poise Ohio for success as the nation’s economy continues to improve.

“Governor Taft and I are committed to securing a sound economic future for all of Ohio,” said Johnson. “Securing good jobs is key to making sure Ohio continues to be a great place to live and raise a family.”

Johnson cited numerous indications pointing to a national economic recovery and said that the Jobs Agenda Governor Taft unveiled in last week’s State of the State address could help ensure Ohio takes advantage of the recovery. The Governor’s first step in this proposed effort to attract and retain good jobs for Ohioans was the appointment of a Jobs Cabinet, chaired by Johnson and consisting of 12 other cabinet-level directors. The interagency effort will coordinate job creation, state marketing, regulatory reform and worker training efforts.

Johnson outlined several other initiatives that will be requested in a Jobs Bill, including:

• Sustaining the Third Frontier Project through the tobacco budget and capital bill, and redirecting additional dollars to protect investments already made;

  
  

• Investing in training Ohio's workforce by redirecting funding to double the state’s commitment to job-training programs that match company training initiatives;

  
  

• Creating the Worker Guarantee Program to recruit, train and screen workers for companies that create at least 100 new jobs;

  
  

• Extending the Ohio Enterprise Zone Program to a maximum 15 years and expanding the Job Creation Tax Credit to include insurance companies some financial institutions, in order to provide new economic development tools to keep Ohio competitive with other states; and,

  
  

• Protecting Ohio's defense jobs by providing an additional $1 million to fully fund local community efforts to fight the federal base closure process.
  
  Additional measures necessary to ensure Ohio’s economic success include tax, civil justice and workers compensation reform. Taft also called for a non-profit marketing organization—made up of state, local and business development organizations--that will promote Ohio's economic assets. “Not only must we work to ensure that Ohio’s business climate invites success, we must also take steps to aggressively market Ohio as the premier place to do business,” said Johnson.
  
  The Ohio Department of Development is the State of Ohio’s primary economic development arm. It seeks to retain and promote the expansion of current Ohio businesses and attract new business to Ohio through financial, informational, and technical assistance, and by working with local partners.
  
  

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