DevelopOhio

A recent Gongwer News Service article reported that in an effort to "restrain government spending" with his first capital appropriations measure, Gov. Kasich has raised the state-funding threshold for new construction to a point that will eliminate "state-backed bond funding for special local projects like theaters, arts and sports ...

New program aims to reduce work place injuries and get injured workers back on the job more quickly.

"The Clean Ohio Council approved more than $27.5 million in Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund grants on November 18 for 15 brownfield clean-up projects throughout the state, which are expected to create and retain nearly 1,280 jobs," according to a news release from the Ohio Department of Development.

Two programs – the Clean Ohio Fund and the Job Ready Sites Program – that assist communities and businesses to remediate distressed properties and incentivize the development of “pad ready” sites, may be discontinued as the State has no current plans in place to continue them.

The CAPLines Loan Program has been revised by the SBA to better comply with bank underwriting guidelines and processes and make it more accessible to small businesses.

Tax increment financing (TIF) has become a common practice when it comes to funding local redevelopment and community improvement projects.

OSU plans to aid in Ohio’s business development and attraction activities through the use of their international gateway offices.

InvestOhio, a $100 million tax credit program, was established to stimulate investments in Ohio’s small businesses.

On November 1, 2011, two Ohio senators announced that they will introduce a $300-$400 million dollar economic development proposal, called “Forward Ohio,” to get unemployed Ohioans back to work. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released data stating that nationally, non-farm payroll employment continued to trend up by more than 80,000 in October, and the unemployment rate lowered by 0.1 percent to an even 9.0 percent. 

On October 25, 2011, a motion was filed in the Franklin County Common Pleas Court (Case Number 11CVH 08 10807) seeking a temporary injunction that would suspend funding and operations for JobsOhio as well as any related activity by the State of Ohio until the lawsuit has been resolved.