Kasich: Privatized jobs group to bolster state ‘under siege’

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COLUMBUS — Republican lawmakers are moving swiftly to help Gov. John Kasich replace the state Department of Development with a public-private entity run by a nonprofit.

Both the House and Senate will introduce bills next week that will provide the framework for Jobs Ohio, a key element of Kasich’s campaign platform.

The governor on Thursday said Ohio is “under siege” by other states and countries luring businesses away from the state, citing three plants that recently gave state officials notice that they were planning to pack up and move out.

Jobs Ohio will allow the state to move more quickly and aggressively to attract and retain jobs and businesses, Kasich said.

State Rep. Mike Duffey, R-Worthington, the primary sponsor of the Jobs Ohio bill in the House, said lawmakers will present a framework and expect state Department of Development Director Mark Kvamme, a venture capitalist, to recommend specifics six months from now. But Senate President Tom Niehaus, R-New Richmond, said senators plan on filling in the details before voting on it sometime in the next two months.

Kvamme said the Dayton Development Coalition is a successful example of how economic development can be done through a public-private partnership.