economic development

DeWine prioritizes children, mental health, and attracting business in state of the state

BY: - January 31, 2023

Ohio Gov.Mike DeWine made clear Tuesday that his priorities during this budget cycle center on child literacy, mental health, and spending to bring in big business. In his annual State of the State address to a joint meeting of the General Assembly, DeWine announced big money moves included in his proposed budget, including $2.5 billion […]

Even according to its metrics, JobsOhio gets a middling grade

BY: - June 14, 2022

JobsOhio insists on grading itself according to its chosen criteria. But when it eventually shared parts of its own analysis, even that put Ohio in the middle of the pack relative to the six states JobsOhio compares itself to. The economic-development agency has spent more than $1 billion since 2015, but last month it said […]

Ford investing $1.5 billion in expanded Ohio EV production, Ohio’s investment? Unclear.

BY: - June 3, 2022

Just outside Cleveland Thursday Gov. Mike DeWine announced Ford will expand its Avon Lake assembly plant to build a new commercial electric vehicle. They plan to invest $1.5 billion in the project and create 1,800 new jobs in Ohio. The state’s business development arm, JobsOhio, is offering incentives, but is not releasing the details publicly […]

Hundreds of millions more in incentives offered to Intel

BY: - June 2, 2022

Ohio was already poised to offer Intel $1.9 billion to build a $20 billion semiconductor plant in Central Ohio. But a public policy group is calling out what it says are previously undisclosed tax breaks that would be worth hundreds of millions more — at least. A slice of those tax breaks would cost funding […]

COMMENTARY

Legalizing bigotry with “Don’t Say Gay” bill will chase businesses away from Ohio

BY: - April 19, 2022

Question: How could you blow a $20 billion investment in Ohio? Answer: Chase away business with legislation to legitimize bigotry. A cynical attempt by Ohio House Republicans to further stigmatize and marginalize LGBTQ people in Ohio with a Florida-style “Don’t Say Gay” bill could give Intel pause about breaking ground on the state’s largest private […]

JobsOhio has a $50M ad campaign, but how does it measure success?

BY: - April 11, 2022

In Austin, New York, Boston, Chicago, Seattle, L.A. and San Francisco, economic developer JobsOhio has embarked on a $50 million advertising campaign to spread a message: Ohio is also a great place to live and operate a business, only it’s a lot cheaper than where you are. “Keep Austin Weird,” says a billboard in that […]

State officials outline additional, but not all, details about Intel incentives

BY: - January 31, 2022

So how long does it take for paint to dry? A week ago, just after announcing what Ohio leaders are calling the biggest economic development deal in the state’s history, Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted wouldn’t say much about the incentive package that lured Intel to Ohio. The only information he shared at the time was […]

Ohio taxpayers again footing the bill for grant project aiding Amazon

BY: - June 15, 2021

The Ohio Senate wants the state to begin “asset testing” for food stamp assistance to ensure government aid only goes to those who truly need it. Meanwhile, Ohio lawmakers agreed Monday to spend $1.5 million in taxpayer funds for an expansion project benefitting one of the most profitable corporations in the world. Lawmakers on the […]

As Amazon profits soar, Ohio gives $800K grant to benefit company project

BY: - June 17, 2020

The state controlling board has invested $800,000 in public grant money benefiting an Amazon distribution center project in Licking County. That amount is nearly equal to the funding amount cut from a public school district headquartered just two miles from the Amazon site.  Amazon is in the process of building the distribution center in Etna […]