Ohio's Strategic Plan for Growth

Author: Ann Gallaher

October 2008

In September, the Ohio Department of Development released a five part strategic plan focused on growing the economy of the State of Ohio. The end goal of the plan is to create and retain jobs and grow the income for Ohioans. The plan also promises to expand productivity through innovation which will ensure opportunity and prosperity for Ohio citizens. The five goal areas are to:

• Share the Ohio Story — Excite the world about Ohio
• Strengthen our Strengths — Linking our inventive past with our innovative future
• Cultivate Top Talent — Retain and attract the best workforce and talent
• Invest in our Regional Assets — Invigorate centers of commerce and community
• Focus on our Customers — Operate government at the speed of business.

At first glance, several of the proposed programs outlined in the plan align with Technology First committees and services. Check Ohio First is a business-to-business service designed to encourage companies to “buy-local”. Over the last three years the Tech Source program has facilitated technology product and service purchases valued at over $2.6 million.

To Cultivate Top Talent we have partnered with the McKenna Golf Tournament Committee to award over $30,000 in scholarships in an effort to retain college students in the region. The Ohio Workforce Guarantee promises to deliver customized training solutions to Ohio’s employers. Just last year Technology First’s Training Exchange not only delivered customized training to over 300 employees but saved their employers nearly $500,000 off of the cost.

To help Share the Ohio Story, Technology First magazine last year promoted the subject matter expertise of Ohio’s technology companies to nearly 50,000 readers with over 32,000 visitors to our website.

We look forward to hearing more about the Ohio Department of Development’s strategic plan and continuing to contribute to the success of Ohio companies and citizens. For more information about the plan please visit www.development.ohio.gov.