GCP announces financial support for Ohio's Campaign for Jobs

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Cleveland, Ohio—The Greater Cleveland Partnership announced today that it is contributing $50,000 in support for “Ohio’s Campaign for Jobs,” a grassroots initiative designed to secure passage of the major reforms contained in House Bill 153, dubbed the “Jobs Budget.”

The budget contains many of the restructuring reforms proposed by the GCP, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and the state’s leading metro chambers in the “Redesigning Ohio: Transforming Government into a 21st Century Institution,” report released in December 2010 with recommendations to help the state improve economic performance and reduce costs.

The Jobs Budget is currently under consideration in the Ohio General Assembly. The proposed reforms will transform the way the state attracts and retains businesses and the passing of the Jobs Budget is essential to the future economic growth of the state.

“We believe that this budget is about much more than revenues, funding important programs, and filling the projected $8 billion deficit. It is about transforming the way we govern ourselves,” said GCP President and CEO Joe Roman.

“Jobs Ohio must have a significant and dedicated funding stream in order to provide the proper resources necessary to attract and retain jobs in Ohio,” said Roman. “It’s time for a new economic development model for the state, and HB 153 sets the stage for new job creation in Northeast Ohio and all of Ohio.”

In addition, the GCP has been vocally supportive of the bill’s educational reform components, including those that enable parents to do more to help failing schools. Provisions include a new ranking system that will let parents see exactly how their child’s school measures up and more options that will allow parents to choose the school their child attends through increases in vouchers and charter schools.

Other provisions supported by the GCP include those that reward outstanding teachers with a new bonus pay system, reform antiquated licensure rules, and eliminate seniority as the sole determinant of teacher retention, so that schools can keep their best teachers based on performance. 

Ohio’s Campaign for Jobs is funded by the Partnership for Ohio’s Future, a not-for-profit organization formed in 2006 to help educate the public about policies that lead to more jobs, greater opportunities and a higher quality of life for Ohioans.

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As an association of business members, the Greater Cleveland Partnership mobilizes private-sector leadership, expertise and resources to create jobs and leverage investment to improve the economic vitality of the region. www.gcpartnership.com

 

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