Chairman’s Update 1/31/21

On CNN’s State of the Union, Senator Portman Calls for Biden Administration to Work with Congress on Targeted COVID-19 Relief
 
This morning on CNN’s State of the Union with Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, Senator Portman discussed the importance of the Biden Administration working on a bipartisan basis with Congress to pass targeted COVID-19 relief. Earlier this morning, Senator Portman and nine other Republican senators sent a letter to President Biden requesting a meeting to discuss a targeted COVID-19 relief proposal that they believe is capable of garnering bipartisan support. 
 
The interview can be found here.
DeWine, Husted Announce $565 Million Investment in Cleveland Innovation District
 

On Monday, Governor DeWine and Lt. Governor Husted were joined by the Ohio Development Services Agency (DSA), JobsOhio, Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, The MetroHealth System, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland State University, City of Cleveland, and state legislators to unveil the Cleveland Innovation District. The Cleveland Innovation District brings together Northeast Ohio’s world-class healthcare providers and education institutions with the goal of creating a pathogen center with global reach to improve the lives of millions of people and to generate more than 20,000 jobs in Ohio over 10 years.

The Cleveland Innovation District will be a center of excellence that acts as a catalyst for ongoing investment in Northeast Ohio, including the attraction of businesses and the talent needed to keep the state competitive in healthcare and IT.

“The Cleveland Innovation District creates partnerships across different sectors of the economy and positions Ohio as a competitive place to invest in,” said Governor Mike DeWine. “Each of the Cleveland Innovation District partners bring unique skills and areas of expertise.  Having these institutions partner together will help Ohio emerge as a leader in healthcare and IT nationally and globally.”

The Innovation District will be a point of collaboration among healthcare, higher education, and business institutions, creating significant research, development, and job opportunities. The Global Center for Pathogen Research & Human Health’s focus will be on research and innovation regarding pathogens, both current and future health threats.

Fox 8: DeWine says Cleveland Innovation District to create 20,000 jobs, $3 billion in economic impact

Husted, InnovateOhio Announce Partnership on Smart Transportation Project to Improve Traffic and Safety for City of Lima

 

On Tuesday, Lt. Governor Husted joined US Ignite and Spectrum, in partnership with InnovateOhio and DriveOhio, to announce an innovative project with the City of Lima to use smart transportation technology to improve traffic and safety in the community.

 

“The primary goal Governor DeWine and I envisioned when creating InnovateOhio was to use technology to improve the way Ohioans live their lives,” said Lt. Governor Husted. “This is a great example of a private-public partnership where technology is being used to create a better transportation system.”

LAROSE SPOTLIGHTS LOGISTICS AND DISTRIBUTION BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE STATE

Each month Secretary LaRose highlights different sectors of the Ohio economy in his Ohio Business Spotlight. Ohio businesses have earned a reputation of innovation, civic engagement, and hard work. It’s these characteristics LaRose hopes every business that starts its journey at the Secretary of State’s office takes to heart.   

In January 2021, Secretary LaRose highlighted six logistics and distribution businesses throughout Ohio. 60 percent of Americans are within 600 miles of Ohio, making the Buckeye State a central location for people to come and grow their business! Click here to see what businesses Secretary LaRose highlighted this month: https://www.ohiosos.gov/secretary-office/office-initiatives/ohio-business-spotlight/2021-january/

Yost Announces Successful Human Trafficking Rescue Operation

Attorney General Dave Yost announced last week that eight women were rescued in a human trafficking operation in central Ohio. The Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, the New Albany Police Department, and other law enforcement partners conducted a one-day sting that intercepted eight women engaging in prostitution, and provided on site access to victim advocates and resources.

 

“The bonds of human trafficking are often chemical chains of addiction and a hopelessness that there is no other way,” Yost said. “This gives the survivors a chance to reset with services that are available. It also gives the women the opportunity to provide information that can help put their traffickers behind bars, thereby protecting other victims like themselves.”

Sprague Announces First Round of Pay-for-Success Ready Projects

On Wednesday, Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague announced five projects that have been deemed “Pay for Success Appropriate and Ready” through the ResultsOHIO initiative. ResultsOHIO is a newly-established program within the Treasurer’s office that enables policymakers and innovators to pursue pay-for-success projects aimed at tackling the most pressing social and public health challenges facing Ohio.

 

“With issues like addiction, infant mortality, and poverty gripping our communities, we must find new ways to combat the most persistent challenges facing our state,” said Treasurer Sprague. “ResultsOHIO gives Ohio an avenue to do things differently – to be bold – and put innovative ideas to the test.”

 

Proposals earning a “Pay for Success Appropriate and Ready” rating have received ResultsOHIO Feasibility Reports that can be used to further their advocacy work and advance efforts to obtain private funding and legislative approval to initiate the projects.

 

More information about the announcement can be found at the following links:

Faber Awards Good Government 

This week Auditor of State Keith Faber visited with elected officials in Fairfield County to present them with an Auditor of State Award with Distinction, an honor fewer than 4% of Ohio’s local governments receive. Faber presented the award at a county commissioners’ meeting to County Auditor Jon Slater.