The OBDC blog is a chance for Ohio executives to share their perspective on how locating in Ohio has enabled them to achieve both their professional and personal aspirations without having to sacrifice one for the other. Their stories will explain how, in Ohio, business success can be achieved in the broader context of a fulfilling life.
Ed Burghard, Executive Director of the Ohio Business Development Coalition, will facilitate the discussions with these leading Ohio executives. The Ohio Business Development Coalition is a nonprofit organization that provides marketing strategy and implementation to support Ohio's economic development.
Ed Burghard, Executive Director of the Ohio Business Development Coalition
June 6th, 2008, No Comments
The wind industry is thriving in Ohio. Ohio joined forces this week with other states committed to wind energy development at the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) WINDPOWER 2008 conference.
"Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland signed legislation creating a real market for renewable energy in Ohio and aggressively positioning Ohio manufacturers to compete in the growing wind energy market," said AWEA Manager of State Legislation Hans Detweiler.
Ohio's renewable portfolio legislation, passed in May 2008, requires all publicly owned utilities serving the state of Ohio to generate 12.5 percent of electricity from renewable energy sources, such as wind, by 2025.
Ohio's wind volume is ideally positioned for energy delivery to major markets in eastern North America. Currently, three companies are developing projects in the state: EverPower Renewables, Invenergy and JW Great Lakes Wind.
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May 28th, 2008, No Comments
Ohio continues to establish its international leadership role in the bioscience industry.
According to a recently released analysis by Cleveland-based BioEnterprise, Ohio has become the leading state between the coasts and one of the top five in the nation for healthcare venture capital firms, a key measurement in the strength of bioscience economies. Ohio bioscience companies in 2007 attracted $296 million in venture investments.
Ohio’s strength in bioscience is no secret to the rest of the world, as evidenced by the first-ever annual meeting of the National Agricultural Biotechnology Council coupled with the bi-annual Ohio Polymer Summit in Columbus on June 3-5. This conference highlights Ohio’s growing global dominance in the convergence of the health, agriculture and industrial sectors of the bioscience industry, the Red, Green, and White sectors that comprise Ohio bioscience.
Based on the color model established by European bioscience leaders, Ohio’s strength in the Red (health), Green (agriculture), and White (industrial) bioscience industry sectors stimulates innovation, promotes cross-collaboration and provides cost-effective solutions to scientific challenges.
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May 21st, 2008, No Comments
Did you know Ohio has a plan for higher education? It goes further than just a plan; it is commitment at the highest levels of state government to increase college graduations to turn around Ohio's struggling economy by supporting its workforce. Ohio is making its higher education system accountable to state investment, increasing the responsibility for Ohio's public colleges and universities to prove they are directly contributing to the state’s economic development.
Ohio's higher education reform will:
- Dramatically increase the number of Ohio college graduates supplying the workforce, thus contributing to an economic upswing.
- Tie higher education funding to university outcomes to produce graduating industry experts in the needed economic sectors, rather than solely rewarding enrollment.
These are bold steps that the rest of the country will want to watch carefully.
To support the need for such a reform, I recently spoke with Richard Simpson, managing partner at Bricker & Eckler LLP, on how the leading legal firm continuously turns to the state’s exceptional academic institutions for the latest crop of promising attorneys.
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May 15th, 2008, No Comments
The health care industry has the potential to be a high-stress and intense work environment, long commutes and little outside culture and entertainment can add even more strain with no personal reprieve in sight. As Ohio is known for being "The State of Perfect Balance," many of the state's health care professionals can truly enjoy their leisurely pursuits outside of the operating room.
I recently spoke with Dr. Chip Souba, dean of The Ohio State (OSU) College of Medicine, interim senior vice president for Health Sciences and CEO of The OSU Medical Center, about how Ohio's work:life balance opportunities have helped the academic center recruit top students and medical experts.
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May 7th, 2008, 1 Comment
Ohio's recently reformed tax initiative assists young businesses, especially startups, in providing them with extra capital to further enhance their services or products—even expand staff. The reformed initiative nourishes Ohio's businesses, but also supports outside entrepreneurs looking to call Ohio home.
I recently spoke with A.J. Hyland, president and CEO of Hyland Software Inc., about how Ohio's current tax initiative is helping small businesses to become sustainable and competitive in their respective markets.
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