Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, right, speaks alongside Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted, left, during a news conference at the University of Dayton to announce their decision to share the ticket in their bid for the Ohio governor. Photo: John Minchillo / Associated Press
Ohio governor candidates Richard Cordray and Mike DeWine will be speaking with about high school students and young adults education, jobs and the future of work in Ohio during a live forum in Cleveland on October 4.
On August 13, DeWine unveiled a workforce development plan that would, among other things, establish regional job training partnerships, push for more federal block grants for job training and create an app to match employers and potential workers.
The information was collected from Mike DeWine’s campaign website on September 13, 2018. The candidate’s position on the topic may have changed since this date.
Ohio Prosperity Plan
Train More People With The Skills They Need
JobsOhio has revolutionized the way we create and retain jobs in Ohio, but creating jobs is not enough – we must prepare Ohioans to fill jobs that are in-demand and in growing industries.
- Establish regional job-training partnerships throughout Ohio with local businesses, education providers, and community leaders to give people the skills they need to compete and win in the 21st century. Currently, there are more than 75 job training programs across 12 state agencies. The DeWine-Husted administration will work to better coordinate these efforts so we can improve services and funding streams.
- Pressure the federal government to remove strings attached to federal job training dollars and block grant those funds to Ohio so the state can work with regional partners and make decisions that actually benefit communities. Job training efforts should be managed by local people who know better than Washington what jobs are available.
- Design a match-making application that actually connects people seeking work to businesses who are hiring. Instead of relying on job-board style website, the DeWine-Husted administration will partner with the technology community to develop an application supported by the data on OhioMeansJobs.com that is more consumer-friendly for the modern world.
- Fund the completion of at least 10,000 in-demand industry certificates in order to create and recruit top-notch tech talent, with the commitment they will stay in Ohio and work. There are many quick job training programs at a cheap cost with high job demand in Ohio. For example, a basic coding degree and a business analytics degree each could take as little as three months to complete at a cost around $600. The DeWine-Husted administration will partner with companies, technical centers and community colleges to provide easy access to job seekers and help bring awareness to these in-demand job opportunities.
- Spearhead common-sense occupational licensing reform to remove bureaucratic barriers to employment that make it harder for qualified, skilled workers to find a job. We believe in encouraging people to work, not discouraging it. The DeWine-Husted administration will update Ohio standards to simplify the process for people and make it easier to reach reciprocal agreements with other states. Additionally, we will review and ask state occupational licensing agencies to issue temporary licenses to military members and spouses who are licensed in another state and have moved to Ohio for active duty.
Ignite Innovation, Research and Investment
- Establish Opportunity Zones for economically-distressed communities. Ohio has the opportunity to bring billions of dollars in private investment to help revitalize communities that need it the most. By conforming Ohio tax law to include the Opportunity Zones established in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, we can provide a brighter future for thousands of Ohioans with better jobs.
- Change Ohio law so that research done at Ohio’s universities can remain the intellectual property of the researcher, and not the institution.This move will prove Ohio is serious about attracting the best and brightest minds and creating an environment where they can thrive. As a result, Ohio will become a magnet for the most innovative researchers in the world and make our state more attractive for private research investment and entrepreneurial ventures.
- Expand broadband infrastructure across Ohio to make Ohio a frontrunner in mobile edge technologies. Our state cannot be tech-friendly when some people and communities don’t have access to the digital highway that allows them to participate and grow. Understanding the cost involved, the DeWine-Husted administration will work closely with the private sector to expand our broadband infrastructure.
Eliminate Burdensome Regulations and Allow Businesses To Flourish
- Ohio has made great strides toward streamlining regulations, but we need to go a step further to make sure Ohio is the best state in the country for job creation and work.
- Suspend the implementation of any regulation that negatively impacts job creation, outside of those that are necessary for health and safety purposes.
- Encourage more robust input from Ohioans on regulations by expanding the Common Sense Initiative to allow citizens to help locate and halt regulations that negatively impact businesses and job growth.
Bottom Line
Just eight years ago, nearly 400,000 Ohioans had lost their jobs and our state was facing an $8 billion hole with only 89 cents in our savings account. Ohio has come a long way under Republican leadership, but it will require bold ideas and strong partnerships with our state’s job creators, community colleges and job training centers to carry the momentum to a new level. This plan lays out a strong foundation to build upon our successes and accelerate Ohio’s economy into the future.