According to the 1998 Development Report Card for the States by the Corporation for Enterprise Development, Ohio’s rankings for business development and economic achievement are dropping. From 1994-1998, Ohio dipped from 25th to 30th in terms of employment, earnings, job quality and quality of life. For the same period, the state dropped from 29th to 33rd in a comparison of the competitiveness of existing businesses, entrepreneurial activity, and structural diversity. From 1995-98, Ohio’s economic momentum in terms of employment, personal income and population dropped from 31st to 43rd.

Other states, including Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts and North Carolina, have developed agendas and legislation to create and attract technology based firms. And, as a result, those states have seen fast paced economic development, increased earnings and overall population growth. In order to achieve these same results, Ohio needs to define and implement a vision for technology in the state. To assist in that process, the YWRC will:

• Promote additional funding for universities to enhance access to high-tech education programs.



• Create and strengthen programs within the Ohio Department of Development to facilitate state investment in technology-based firms and projects. These efforts should include expansion of the Thomas Edison Incubator program so that all communities across the state have access to their services.



• Support investment in telecommunications infrastructure to make low cost, high-speed access available to all firms in the Valley.



• Work to establish policies that promote research and development within both our university system and at private firms, including the permanent extension of the federal R&D tax credit.



• Create tax incentives to pay for incumbent workers to upgrade skills (2, 4-year college programs and other training programs). Incentives could be used by either businesses for employee development or individuals for self-improvement.



• Ensure access to high speed Internet access.



• Create Incubators Without Walls to encourage development of technology within existing firms, rather than simply in start-ups.



• Encourage the state to establish and implement a technology vision for Ohio, including changes to the tax code and eliminating other “disincentives” to entrepreneurialism.