Office of the Governor Press Releases

Columbus, OH – In order to help meet his goal of dramatically expanding the level of training and education of Ohio workers, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today signed an executive order that reassigns key workforce programs to the Department of Development and the Ohio Board of Regents.

“I am determined to make sure that Ohio’s workforce development programs are more effective and responsive to the needs of workers and businesses in Ohio,” Strickland said. “This transition will bring our workforce development programs more in line with the specific missions and goals of our state departments and will allow our program to create new job opportunities, link workers with employers and help Ohio businesses be better prepared to complete globally.”

Under the executive order, the Ohio Department of Development will assume responsibility for all services related to employers by transferring authority of the Workforce Investment Act discretionary programs and one-stop business support programs currently housed at the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

Additionally, the Board of Regents will transfer targeted-industry training grants to the Department of Development to maximize the business community’s usage of those funds.

The Ohio Board of Regents will assume responsibility for the Ohio Skills Bank, which works to insure that Ohio's educational institutions are providing programs and training in most in demand by the private sector. The Ohio Skills Bank is currently housed at the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services will remain responsible for programs primarily involving services to individuals, such as linking workers to employers and unemployment compensation.

“The Department of Development is not alone in its mission to grow jobs for Ohio: economic development is the responsibility of every state agency, and this transformation will enable each agency to better serve our core customers – the workers of our state,” said Lt. Governor Fisher, who also serves as Director of the Ohio Department of Development. “This realignment will improve performance and accountability; better align resources and reduce redundancy; and set in place a system for sharing information and measuring program and service outcomes across state agencies.”

Among the programs the Department of Development will be responsible for are the Targeted Industries Training Grant Program and the Ohio Workforce Guarantee. The Targeted Industries Training Grant Program is a training reimbursement program that supports up to 75% of the total documented costs of training and related services for companies with less than 100 employees or 50 % of training for companies with 100 or more employees.

The Ohio Workforce Guarantee Program is a $3.5 million program that provides training grants of up to $750,000 to companies that are relocating to Ohio or expanding operations within the state. Under the program, funds are made available to companies to train incumbent workers, avert layoffs through business assistance, and collaborate with public education and training institutions statewide to offer credit and certification training for workers.

“This realignment of our workforce systems will help the University System of Ohio seamlessly link education, workforce development, and the needs of business,” Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Eric Fingerhut said. These initiatives are critical as our educational institutions become demand-driven engines of economic development.”

The Ohio Skills Bank will fundamentally reframe the relationship between regional adult education and training and their surrounding communities, turning adult educational institutions into demand-driven engines of economic development.

“This reprioritization will allow ODJFS to focus on what we do best-- provide individuals and families with solutions to temporary challenges as they navigate the barriers of job loss and employment,” Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Director Helen Jones Kelley said. “We will link Ohioans with the technology to assist in their job search as they secure employment and explore new career options.”

By moving some of the department’s current workforce development programs, the Ohio Department of Job and Family services will be able to better focus on providing temporary workforce solutions to Ohioans through unemployment services. The department will continue to link Ohioans who are out of work with Ohio employers.

In addition, through interagency agreements, the restructuring will allow for smoother and better-coordinated information sharing among the three agencies. For Job and Family Services, this will primarily mean the sharing of labor market information. The Department of Development will share its strategic research, and the Board of Regents will share data obtained through its Higher Education Information System.

The transition project will begin on July 1, 2008, but the transition of staff will be formalized in the within the next 90 days. Affected funds will transition from Job and Family Services and Board of Regents to the Development Department over the course of the next 12 to 24 months, depending upon existing contracts and/or financial commitments.

Columbus, Ohio – Governor Ted Strickland today signed Senate Bill 209.

Senate Bill 209

State Senator John Carey sponsored Senate Bill 209, which increases fines for OVI violations and allocates the estimated $3.7 million revenue increase to the State Public Defender to reimburse county governments for expenses in operating local public defender systems.

SB 209 also requires the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to issue permits that allow persons with disabilities to hunt in public wildlife areas with electric-powered all-purpose vehicles or motor vehicles and modifies criminal law to permit hunting from such vehicles. Additionally, the bill establishes registration reciprocity for snowmobiles, off-highway motorcycles and all-purpose vehicles of non-Ohio residents if the operator lives in a state where the vehicle is properly registered under a registration law similar to Ohio’s.

The bill also appropriates nearly $2 million to the Tobacco Use and Control Foundation for operating expenses in Fiscal Year 2009.

Columbus, Ohio – Governor Ted Strickland announced today the appointments of Robert Gippin to the Summit County Court of Common Pleas and Roger Hafford to the Sandusky County Court of Common Pleas.

Gippin, of Akron, was appointed to the Summit County seat vacated by the retirement of Judge Marvin A. Shapiro.

“Robert’s career is marked by meaningful legal and courtroom experience and a history of service to Summit County,” Strickland said. “I am confident that he will serve the common pleas court with hard work and professionalism.”

Hafford, of Fremont, was appointed to the Sandusky County seat vacated by the retirement of Judge James Sherck.

“Roger’s legal expertise, coupled with a life-long commitment to his community, makes him well-suited to serve as a fair and effective judge in Sandusky County,” Strickland said.

Robert Gippin, Summit County Court of Common Pleas

Robert Gippin, 60, is currently a partner with the law firm of Goldman and Rosen, Ltd., in Akron.
An attorney with more than 30 years of legal experience, Gippin was previously a member of the firms of Buckingham, Doolittle and Burroughs Co., LPA, in Akron from 1975-2000 and Thompson Hine, LLP, in Cleveland from 2000-2003. He also served as a prosecutor for the Cuyahoga Falls Municipal Court.

Gippin received a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College in 1969 and a law degree from Harvard University in 1973. Following graduation, Gippin worked as a special assistant to the director of the Ohio Department of Commerce and as the secretary of the Ohio State Real Estate Commission. He was a Summit County Council member from 1981-1984 and served as president for three years.

An active member of the Akron Bar Association, Gippin serves as chair of the Federal Courts Committee and a member of the Common Pleas and Court of Appeals Committee and the Certified Grievance Committee. Among his civic activities, Gippin serves as a member of the Summit County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board, a trustee for the Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio and a member of the board of Project Learn of Summit County, an adult literacy agency.

“I am grateful to the Governor for giving me the opportunity to serve the citizens of Summit County and for allowing me the great honor of succeeding Judge Shapiro, who has brought real wisdom, fairness and energy to the bench,” Gippin said. “I will strive to continue his tradition, using my 35 years of experience, my long history of community involvement, and my deep and abiding commitment to serve the law and the people with balance, patience and efficiency.”

Gippin will take the bench on April 5.

Roger Hafford, Sandusky County Court of Common Pleas

Roger Hafford, 61, has been a practicing attorney in Sandusky County for nearly 31 years. He currently serves as the acting prosecutor for the City of Fremont and as an attorney with Hafford-Watkins Law Office, LLC, in Fremont.

Hafford previously served as prosecutor for the Fremont Municipal Court from 1981-1991 and as the City of Fremont law director from 1978-1991.

He is a member of the Fremont Area Foundation and has coached basketball in the Fremont area for 20 years. He is currently the coach for the Fremont Ross seventh grade boys basketball team.

Hafford received a bachelor’s degree from the Ohio State University in 1970, a master’s degree from Ohio State University in 1972 and a law degree from the University of Toledo in 1976. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Ohio State Bar Association and the Sandusky County Bar Association.

“As a life-long resident of Sandusky County, I am honored to serve my community in this capacity,” Hafford said.

Hafford will take the bench on April 11.

A high-resolution photo of Gippin is available by clicking here.

A high-resolution photo of Hafford is available by clicking here.

Columbus, Ohio – Governor Ted Strickland today signed House Bill 113 and House Bill 125.

House Bill 113

State Representatives John White and Clayton Luckie sponsored House Bill 113, which requires the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) and the Department of Youth Services (DYS) to allow appropriately qualified nonprofit faith-based, business, professional, civic, educational, and community organizations to provide reentry services to individuals in custody at adult correctional institutions or youth facilities.

House Bill 125

State Representative Matt Huffman sponsored House Bill 125, which establishes certain uniform contract provisions between health care providers and insurers, establishes a standard form for doctor credentialing, and requires insurers to provide health care providers specified information about enrollees, including compensation or payment for health care services.

HB 125 also creates a study group to examine contract clauses that forbid a doctor from offering a lower rate in contract with a different insurer and places a moratorium on such contracts. In addition, the bill establishes an advisory committee to develop a Web-based insurance eligibility verification tool for use by insurers, doctors and patients.

Columbus, Ohio – Governor Ted Strickland today signed the following bills:

Senate Bill 87

State Senator John Carey sponsored Senate Bill 87, which creates and establishes criteria for implementing a statewide emergency alert program to aid in the identification and location of missing individuals who have a mental impairment or are 65 years of age or older. In addition, the bill makes changes to the Missing Persons Law in regards to missing persons between the ages of 18 and 21, and under the age of 18.

Senate Bill 225

State Senator Tim Schaffer sponsored Senate Bill 225, which changes registration requirements and procedures for architects.

Senate Bill 185

State Senator Bob Schuler sponsored Senate Bill 185, which revises certain laws governing public libraries, changes the name of the Library and Local Government Support Fund to the Public Library Fund and codifies in law the creation of the Ohio Public Library Information Network.

House Bill 314

State Representative Shannon Jones sponsored House Bill 314, which requires physicians, if an obstetric ultrasound exam is performed prior to an abortion or performed as part of an abortion procedure, to provide the woman with the opportunity to view the active ultrasound image of an embryo or fetus and offer to provide the woman with a physical picture of the ultrasound.

House Bill 496

State Representative Matt Huffman sponsored House Bill 496, an omnibus bill that addresses budgetary issues and corrective measures by directing and redirecting appropriations through the end of the current biennium, June 30, 2010.

House Bill 160

State Representative Danny Bubp sponsored House Bill 160, which makes changes to the law relating to disclaimers under the Ohio Trust Code, allows a limited liability company to be a nonprofit entity and makes clarifying changes to certain tax exemptions.

Columbus, OH– Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today issued the following statement on the passing of U.S. Senator Howard Metzenbaum:

“In a life of tremendous personal and political success, Senator Howard Metzenbaum never forgot those who good fortune had left behind. I mourn his passing but cherish his legacy as one of the best friends consumers and working people have ever had in this state and in this nation.

“As a master of the rules of the Senate, Howard Metzenbaum fought countless legislative battles and won more than he lost. Both for his victories and the things he believed, he will be remembered at kitchen tables and on assembly lines as the people’s champion.

“My prayers are with his family during this sad time."

In honor of Senator Metzenbaum, Strickland signed the following proclamation to lower flags to half-staff:

In observance of the life of Senator Howard M. Metzenbaum, I hereby proclaim, by the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Ohio by the Ohio Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, that the flags of the United States of America and the State of Ohio shall be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings and grounds throughout the state of Ohio from sunrise March 14th to sunset March 17th, 2008.

On This 13th Day Of March, 2008;

Ted Strickland
Governor

Columbus, Ohio – Governor Ted Strickland announced today that Senate Bill 221, his Energy, Jobs and Progress plan, has received 116 endorsements from organizations and companies across Ohio.

“I am encouraged by the level of support and advocacy for Senate Bill 221 from organizations and companies across Ohio. They understand that the future of Ohio’s economy and competitiveness depends on having stable electricity prices, a reliable energy infrastructure, and a robust advanced energy industry. Ohio needs this energy plan to remain competitive, and I urge the House of Representatives to complete work on this bill as soon as possible.”

Below is a full list of endorsements for Senate Bill 221:

1. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
2. AK Steel Corporation
3. Allegra Print and Imaging
4. Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers
5. Alcoa Inc.
6. Anderson-Clark, Inc., dba Composite Trade Printing
7. Arcelor Mittal
8. Association of Ohio Philanthropic Homes, Housing & Services for the Aging
9. ASHTA Chemicals
10. AT&T Ohio
11. Aultman Hospital/ Aultman Health Foundation
12. Bayer Polymers
13. Belden Brick Company
14. Belpre, City of
15. BP Products, North America Inc.
16. Brush Wellman
17. Campbell Soup Company
18. Carmichael Machine Corp.
19. Certified Labs & Services, Inc.
20. Cetronics, Inc.
21. Chillicothe, City of
22. Cleveland City Council
23. Cleveland Clinic
24. Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio
25. Council of Smaller Enterprises
26. Crane Plastics
27. Createc Corporation
28. DuPont
29. DaimlerChrysler
30. Eaton Corp.
31. Edward Orton Jr. Ceramic Foundation
32. Elliott Machine Works, Inc.
33. Eliokem, Inc.
34. Emerson Network Power/Liebert
35. Everhard Products, Inc.
36. Feinblanking Limited, Inc.
37. Ford Motor Company
38. General Electric
39. General Electric Aviation
40. GFS Chemicals
41. Goodyear Tire & Rubber
42. Griffin Wheel
43. Guaranteed Finishing Inc.
44. Honda of America Mfg., Inc.
45. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
46. International Truck and Engine
47. Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland
48. Kraft Foods of North America
49. Lorain, City of
50. Manufacturing Advocacy & Growth Network (MAGNET)
51. Mayors’ Partnership for Progress
52. MetroHealth Hospital, Cleveland
53. Midmark
54. Morgal Machine Tool Company
55. Newman Brothers, Inc.
56. Nissin Brake Ohio, Inc.
57. Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC)
58. Northwest Ohio Aggregation Coalition (NOAC)
59. North Star BlueScope Steel
60. Nucor Steel
61. Ohio AFL-CIO
62. Ohio Aggregates & Industrial Minerals Association
63. Ohio Alliance for Retired Americans
64. Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies
65. Ohio Association of Second Harvest Food Banks
66. Ohio Cattlemen Association
67. Ohio Chemistry Technology Council
68. Ohio Corn Growers Association
69. Ohio Energy Group
70. Ohio Farm Bureau Federation
71. Ohio Hospital Association
72. Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association
73. Ohio Laser LLC
74. Ohio Manufacturers’ Association
75. Ohio Partners for Affordable Energy
76. Ohio Plastics Belting Company
77. Ohio Restaurant Association
78. Ohio Soybean Association
79. Ohio Stamping & Machine
80. Ohio Star Forge Company
81. Ohio Steel Industry Advisory Council
82. Ohio Transitional Machine/ Tool
83. Oscar Brugmann Sand & Gravel, Inc.
84. OSCO Industries
85. Owens-Corning
86. Owens-Illinois, Inc.
87. Perstorp Polyols, Inc.
88. PPG Industries Inc.
89. ProgressOhio
90. Pro-Tec Coating Company.
91. The Proctor & Gamble Company
92. Republic Engineered Products, Inc.
93. Rose City Manufacturing, Inc.
94. Community Action Commission of Scioto County
95. Senco Products Inc.
96. Shelly Company
97. Sherwin-Williams
98. Sign America Inc.
99. Summitville Tiles, Inc.
100. The Timken Company Inc.
101. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
102. Tri-R Dies Inc.
103. Uhrden, Inc.
104. United Auto Workers
105. United Steelworkers
106. United Mine Workers
107. U.S. Steel
108. USWA Local 5724 at Ormet
109. Utility Workers Union of America
110. V & M Star
111. Westside Industrial Retention and Expansion Network (WIRE-Net)
112. WCI Steel Inc.
113. Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corporation
114. Whirlpool Corporation
115. Wood U.S. Acquisition Co./ W.C. Wood Corporation.
116. Worthington Industries, Inc.

Columbus, Ohio – Governor Ted Strickland and Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher today joined members of Ohio’s business and economic development communities and Ohio General Assembly to announce that the State of Ohio has been awarded Site Selection magazine’s Governor’s Cup Award for leading the nation in new and expanded facilities in 2007. The March edition of the magazine will highlight the award and Ohio’s economic accomplishments.

“Ohio is once again proving to the nation, and the world, its leadership in attracting and supporting new and expanded business facilities,” said Governor Strickland. “This award would not be possible our strong partnership with local governments and business professionals from across the state.”

“In the 21st Century, businesses can choose to locate anywhere in the world and in order to compete, we’re creating a business environment that supports their success in a global economy,” said Lt. Governor Fisher, who also serves as the Director of the Ohio Department of Development. “We’ve been focusing on a faster, higher quality, and more flexible response to the economic development needs of Ohio’s citizens, communities, and businesses. The Governor’s Cup Award and Ohio’s common-sense approach to securing and retaining business investment demonstrate that Ohio is up to the challenge.”

Governor Strickland also attributes the win to Ohio’s improved tax climate that gives Ohio the lowest capital investment tax rate in the Midwest, the state’s world-class infrastructure, Ohio’s commitment to education reform, workforce development, and global competitiveness.

In an earlier statement Ohio House Speaker Jon Husted and Ohio Senate President Bill Harris said:

“By lowering taxes and instituting fiscal discipline we have laid the groundwork for economic progress for our state, and people are taking notice. Today, Ohio is investing in high-tech research and disciplines that will help develop the highly-skilled workforce of tomorrow. These are all qualities business and industry look for when they establish and grow their companies.

“Today’s award is a validation of our strategy to secure new investments – a strategy built on lowering taxes on earning and investing in our state and building a talented workforce to fill the jobs of the future.”

“This honor speaks to the direction Ohio is taking to draw in business and create the jobs that will sustain the state and make us a hub for innovation and technology in the 21st Century economy,” said Ohio House Democratic Leader Joyce Beatty. “It shows the nation what we already know: that Ohio is a place where people can succeed and thrive.”

Conway Data, Site Selection’s publisher, has since 1978 annually recognized the U.S. state with the most new and expanded corporate facilities as tracked by its New Plant database. The New Plant database focuses on new corporate location projects that meet at least one of three criteria: (a) involve a capital investment of at least $1 million, (b) create at least 50 new jobs or (c) add at least 20,000 sq. ft. of new floor area.

“Winning the Governor's Cup for corporate expansion activity the previous calendar year indicates that the governor's economic development agenda -- and those who implement it -- are well attuned to the location requirements of investors in commercial facilities,” said Mark Arend, editor in chief of Site Selection. “Because we track announcements of new and expanding facilities, the benefits in terms of job creation have yet to be fully realized.”

“We must ensure that Ohio fosters a healthier business climate, and this award clearly shows that we as a state are succeeding in our efforts to attract new businesses and jobs,” Senate Minority Leader Ray Miller said. “We are creating partnerships to improve our economic development strategy in a way that prepares our workers to compete in the global economy. The success we have and will continue to achieve is the result of teamwork and a commitment to responsive and responsible fiscal management.”

The magazine’s yearly analyses are regarded by corporate real estate analysts as “the industry scoreboard.” Ohio won the award with 399 projects; Illinois placed second with 362 projects, followed by Tennessee (293), North Carolina (291) and Texas (281).

“This award is a very direct result of the dedication and responsive performance of the local economic development organizations on the front lines of economic development,” said Jessica Johnson, President of the Ohio Economic Development Association. “This recognition also reflects the success of the partnership between the Ohio Department of Development, the Ohio Business Development Coalition and Team Ohio, the Ohio Economic Development Association’s sales division, in promoting new investment in Ohio in 2007.”

This year marks the sixth time Ohio has been awarded the Governor's Cup, receiving the award in 1993, 1994, 1995, 2003, and 2006.

Additional information about the Governor's Cup is available at the Site Selection magazine Web site.