It is crucial that government help pave the way for businesses to create jobs. Since so many people have asked, I want to let you know about the job creation accomplishments Governor Ted Strickland and I have worked on together over the past year in Washington County.
July, 2009 - With the Governor's support, I placed in the budget language requiring the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Southeast Ohio Port Authority to develop a master plan for the State Nursery on State Route 7. This plan should be mutually beneficial for the state, the port authority, and the local community. The language paved the way for this land to be developed to house industry, serve as boon to the local economy, and, most importantly, create jobs.
January, 2010 - The Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) committed Rapid Outreach Grant Assistance (16% of the cost) to subsidize new equipment costs for Thermo Fisher Scientific. As a result of the project and state assistance provided, Thermo Fisher will create 116 new, full-time positions and retain 480 previously at-risk, existing, full-time jobs.
April, 2010 - The state loaned Cool Containers of Marietta $236,000 for an expansion project that would create 20 new, full time jobs. The company makes ultra low temperature refrigeration systems, and the expansion will allow them to develop a potentially revolutionary way to ship pharmaceuticals around the world. Cool Containers received the 2010 Ohio Chamber Excellence in Entrepreneurship award for its development of the PharmaPort 360 temperature controlled shipping container.
June, 2010 - Ohio's Third Frontier Program awarded The Kraton Polymer Innovation Center $3.13 million grant for a polymer development and manufacturing company. This will allow them to develop a research and development facility that will position Washington County as a global leader in the innovation, design and sales of commercial polymer products. This will bring long lasting benefits to southeast Ohio.
Kraton estimates that up to 200 construction jobs will be created along with a number of high-paid, high-tech positions. This is the first competitive Third Frontier grant awarded to an entity in Washington County.
The Ohio Third Frontier is a high-tech jobs program that invests in growing industries like advanced energy, transportation and logistics. The program began in 2002 with bipartisan support and voter approval.
July, 2010 - For the first time ever, an organization in Washington County received Job Ready Site Program dollars. The maximum grant of $750,000 went to the Ingenuity Center in Marietta to construct a high quality manufacturing space to assist in attracting companies in the temperature controlled cabinet industry. As part of the project, the Center will acquire five acres of land within the Seven North Commerce Park for a new 35,000 square foot building. This project will create jobs and be a significant help in our recovery from this recession.
The Job Ready Sites program was created to increase the supply and quality of Ohio's inventory of commercial and industrial developable sites. Since its inception in 2005 this program has awarded more than $130 million in grants. Before Ted Strickland was Governor, Job Ready Site money did not make its way to Washington County.
These are just a few of the investments the state made to assist businesses who are creating jobs in this county. Please note, the Governor's office and the Ohio Department of Development continue to work with businesses to facilitate growth and job creation.
You can reach Jennifer Garrison in her Columbus office at (614)644-8728, in the district at (740)373-2414 or by email at Jennifer@jennifergarrison.com. Her website is www.jennifergarrison.com
