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Ohio Development Services Agency Leadership Team Announced (link)

The Ohio Development Services Agency Director announced today the completion of the Agency’s leadership team. The Agency is focused on exceptional customer service, transparency and accountability for taxpayer money.

Ryan Burgess, Assistant Director, comes to Development from Fifth Third Bank where he has worked for the last 20 years, most recently as Senior Vice President. His banking  expertise will prove valuable in providing accountability for taxpayer dollars which support business, community and individual development. As Assistant Director, Ryan oversees Legal, Budget, Administrative and JobsOhio liaison sections of Development, as well as supports the staff in improving customer service, cutting government bureaucracy
and growing jobs for Ohio.

Jacqueline Williams, Chief of the Minority Business Division, comes to Development with a host of private and public sector experience. She is currently the executive director of the Liquor Control Commission of Ohio and was instrumental in streamlining the appeals process, making the commission more accessible to local governments and businesses. She
previously worked to make college education more accessible and affordable for all Ohio families in her role as executive director for the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority.

Ezra Escudero, Deputy Chief of the Office of Business Assistance and Director of the State Small Business Development Centers, comes from a banking background at JP Morgan Chase and was a financial planner for Skylight Financial Group. He is the former executive director for the Ohio Commission on Hispanic and Latino Affairs and was founder, editor and publisher for the Nuestro Ohio Bilingual Newspaper.

Joy Padgett, Deputy Director of the Governor’s Office of Appalachia, was a school teacher for 20 years before running for office. She was elected and served in the House of Representatives until 1999. She served as the Director of the Governor’s Office of  pApalachia and later went on to become an Ohio Senator, leading the Appalachian Delegation. Padgett is also the former director of Government Relations for the Central Ohio Technical College.

Kenyatta Chandler, Revenue and Loan Officer, is a former business manager from the Office of Budget and Management. He has extensive experience in financial services and spent several years working in the State Treasurer’s Office and is a national expert on electronic payments, developing and implementing a comprehensive analytical and reporting system for state depository banks.

Rebecca Ruan-O-Shaughnessy, Deputy Chief of the Office of Strategic Business Investments, is promoted from Assistant Deputy Chief. She oversees customer service, grants, loans, reporting, quality assurance and tax incentive sections for the Office. She is an attorney with a law degree from the University of Minnesota and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Japanese Studies.

Ohio’s Working to Connect Buyers and Suppliers Through Free On-Line Training – COLUMBUS – Millions of dollars worth of contracts are up for grabs, and the state is  offering help so Ohio companies can get in on the action. Four free webinars that highlight the Ohio bioproduct  industry  and promote contract opportunities are right around the corner, and now is the time to register. “This webinar series will educate Ohio businesses, government and commercial suppliers and buyers on how Ohio bioproducts can help them meet their contracting goals,” said Daryl Hennessy, interim state director of the Small Business Development Centers network.  During these upcoming webinars, statewide industry members will provide an introduction to the bioproducts industry in Ohio. The US Department of Agriculture defines biobased products as commercial or industrial products that are composed of biological products.  The Ohio Development Services  Agency and the Ohio Small Business Development Centers network, in partnership with Check Ohio First and From the Earth Bioproducts are conducting the webinars.

Information on each webinar, as well as registration information, can be found at  www.CheckOhioFirst.com in the Featured Upcoming Events section.

Webinar Dates and Times: April 18, 2013, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Doing Business with
Bioproducts in Ohio;  April 25, 2013, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Winning Contracts with Bio-Based Products and Components ; May 9, 2013, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Doing Bio-Based Business with State Buyers;  May 16, 2013, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Doing Bio-Based Business with Federal Buyers

Millions of Dollars Available for Ohio Small Businesses – 8th Annual Business  Matchmaker provides Ohio small businesses networking opportunities

COLUMBUS –The Ohio Business Matchmaker Conference runs from Wednesday, March  27, 2013 to Thursday, March 28, 2013 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Dayton Convention Center. “This conference provides a convenient opportunity for small businesses to network with new customers and suppliers,” said David Zak, Chief of the Business Services Division. “These matches are an essential tool for small businesses to grow, expand and create new jobs.” The purpose of the 2013 Ohio Business Matchmaker Conference is for Ohio small businesses to network with buyers and suppliers of goods and services. The participating buyers represent city, state, county and federal agencies, as well as prime contractors and other organizations with combined purchasing budgets representing millions of dollars in opportunities. This conference will help the agencies achieve their mandated contracting and subcontracting goals by identifying potential sources of supply.  In addition to one-on-one matchmaking meetings, the event offers training for small businesses on topics such as securing business with federal government prime contractors, expanding sales through exporting, opportunities for veterans and other business opportunities.   “The Matchmaker is an excellent way for small businesses to meet potential buyers of their products or services,” said Kenneth Klein, Deputy District Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration Columbus District Office. Last year more than 1,140 participants, including more than 1,150 individual small businesses, took part in one-on-one meetings with more than 250 buyers. Sponsors of the event include the Ohio Development Services Agency’s Office of Business Assistance and Small Business Development Centers Network of Ohio, along with Check Ohio First. The Small Business Administration Columbus District Office is a participant of this event. For more information about the Ohio Business Matchmaker Conference, visit www.ohiobusinessmatchmaker.com or contact the Ohio Small Business Development  Center (614) 466-2711.

Governor Kasich’s Release regarding the State Budget -  This Executive Budget is framed against a much brighter backdrop than Ohio faced just  two years ago. Coming into that biennium, Ohio faced an historic $7.7 billion fiscal imbalance and a sputtering economy  that landed Ohio nearly dead-last in job creation. As a result of our decisive
action, however, we prevented Ohio’s collapse and have gotten our state back on track. While we’ve made significant progress, too many Ohioans are still out of work. Our taxes are still too high and present a formidable barrier to job creation. Significant improvements remain undone to the programs that care for vulnerable Ohioans. Ohio must do better. We must further restrain the cost of state government and become more efficient to serve Ohioans better and more responsibly. That is our mission with this budget and in the next biennium.   The reforms in this budget are the next steps in moving Ohio further down the road toward solid, sustained prosperity for all of us. Together, we have taken steps to get Ohio back on track, and I am confident we can continue to make Ohio a better place to work, live and raise our families. Sincerely, John R.
Kasich- Governor

LINKs -

Text of Analysis -

1) BUDGET Recommendations

2) Budget Highlights

3)  Tax Expenditure Report

4)  Reforms Booklets

The Ohio Department of Development is teaming up with partner organizations to hold a Blaze Your Own Trail seminar on Saturday, September 29, 2012 –  Program educates  women business owners on starting or growing a business. Blaze Your Own Trail seminar on Saturday, September 29, 2012 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Columbus State Community College Conference Center, located at 315 Cleveland Avenue. The Ohio  Department of Development’s Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) and the U.S. Small Business Administration have sponsored Women Educating Women, Inc. for this
seminar to provide women, who are interested in starting a business or who currently own a business, with information on how to grow or expand their enterprise, specifically through internet marketing and social media efforts.

“This program offers a great opportunity to women in the business world,” said Christine Schmenk, Director of the Ohio Department of Development. “We are proud to team up with other organizations that are equally committed to helping these women achieve their
goals as business owners.”

JobsOhio Releases Second Quarter Reports -

Summary of 2^nd Quarter Report – 77 Projects won; 4665+ new jobs committed to be created with $205 million in annual payroll; 11,238 retained jobs representing $507 million in payroll; 15,904 jobs combined with $712 million in payroll; $863 million in new capital investment; three-year ROI of $31 million.

Mid-TermBudget HB487 As Reported by Conference Committee Comparison (Link to Text)  Adopted by the Ohio House and Senate May 23, 2012

JobsOhio Board Meeting Advisory –May 1^st   -  The next JobsOhio board meeting will be held in Cleveland on Tuesday May 1st from 3:00-5:00PM   

 JobsOhio Quarterly Board Meeting – JobsOhio is a private nonprofit corporation established to lead Ohio’s job-creation efforts by singularly focusing on attracting and retaining jobs, with  an emphasis on strategic industry sectors in areas of statewide and regional strength. For more information, contact: Laura Jones, JobsOhio (614) 290-1396 jones@jobs-ohio.com

Ohio Third Frontier Commission recommended $948,109 in funding through the Ohio Third Frontier Technology Validation and Start-up Fund. The Fund promotes the commercialization of Ohio technologies developed by the state’s institutions of higher education. Ohio’s institutions of higher education are on the forefront of research that can provide a sizable economic benefit to Ohio companies,” said Christiane Schmenk, Director of the Ohio Department of Development and Chair of the Ohio Third Frontier Commission. “Anything we can do to bring these life-changing technologies to Ohio start-up companies will have a direct impact on job creation and further positions Ohio as a leader in innovative technology.” The goal of the Ohio Third Frontier Technology Validation and Start-up Fund is to create greater economic growth in Ohio-based start-up companies that commercialize technologies developed by Ohio institutions of higher education. The Fund has been designed to support these protected technologies that require validation/proof and will directly impact and enhance both the commercial viability and support for the young and start-up companies licensing these validated/proven technologies.