Journal-News.com

MONROE — Ohio taxpayers could be asked this fall to support a proposal on the November ballot to help fund Gov. Ted Strickland's $1.7 billion "Building Ohio Jobs" plan to lay the foundation for long-term economic prosperity in the state.

More than 100 local, state and regional leaders attended a briefing by Mark Shanahan, Strickland's energy adviser and the executive director of Air Quality Development Authority, who outlined the plan at the Monroe City Building today, March 28.

The $1.7 billion proposal is designed to create more than 80,000 jobs in Ohio over a 3 to 5 year period by issuing $1.7 billion in new bonds. Distribution of those funds would begin next spring, state officials said. The proposal is not on the ballot yet, but Strickland may try to gather signatures if the state legislature doesn't act on it soon.

Shanahan said Ohio has a history of going into harder economic times during an economic downturn. The Buckeye state usually suffers disproportionately and then has a much tougher time coming out and taking advantage of recovery when it comes, he said.

"One of the things the governor believes is we have to change that pattern in Ohio and we have to invest in the Ohio economy now so that it can be ready to take advantage of the recovery when it gets here," he said.

"That means making an significant investment in Ohio and that is the core of the Building Ohio Jobs proposal."

Strickland's plan specifically calls for:

• An investment of $400 million in the Clean Ohio Fund.

• An investment of $400 million in the Public Works Commission.

• An investment of $250 million in advanced energy.

• An investment of $200 million in Main Street Renewal.

• An investment of $200 million in the biomedical industry.

• An investment of $150 million in logistics and distribution infrastructure.

• An investment of $100 million in bioproducts.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2595 or dewilson@coxohio.com.