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January 2011 | |
Dear Friends:
The early days of 2011 have signaled a new beginning on many fronts. New leaders in the Governor's office, the state legislature and Congress and a few early signs of economic recovery offer a hint of optimism for a brighter year ahead.
New beginnings often bring new faces. I am delighted that so many friends and former colleagues have found meaningful opportunities to serve Ohio in key policy and decision-making roles in the new Kasich Administration, while other long-time friends have assumed the mantle of leadership in Washington. I am also pleased that a new face has joined our firm to continue to support clients and take advantage of the opportunities these new beginnings have brought.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact any of us at Hicks Partners is we can assist you.
Brian K. Hicks
President & CEO |
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Economic Development - New Life for Ohio | |
JobsOhio - here we come
Rebuilding Ohio's economy was the central theme of Governor Kasich's campaign. Now the Governor is turning his words into action. In the days since his inauguration, the new Governor has demonstrated his commitment to economic development in Ohio.
Governor Kasich appointed Mark Kvamme as Director of the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD). As a former partner in Sequoia Capital and now accepting a salary of just $1, Mr. Kvamme is a non-traditional development director, to say the least. He has agreed to assume this role for only a short time (approximately six to eight months), during which he will oversee the transition of Ohio's economic development efforts from the existing ODOD to a private non-profit agency called JobsOhio. Mr. Kvamme has already begun sifting through the functions of ODOD to determe what to keep, what to eliminate, what to create and what to transition to JobsOhio.
Director Kvamme's private-sector experience will bring a much needed sense of urgency and creativity to economic development. He is expected to focus on small businesses and entrepreneurial companies, while at the same time supporting Ohio's existing manufacturing base. Further, Director Kvamme has already shared his view that Ohio can be the Midwest energy leader given our strengths in coal, natural gas, opportunities for more nuclear power, and the significant investments being made in other advanced energy technologies.
In the meantime, economic development efforts proceed and Hicks Partners continues to assist clients as they secure incentives to support job creation and business growth. Please contact Emily Turner to learn how we can help your company access valuable economic development tools. | |
CSI: Ohio
You've heard of CSI: Las Vegas, CSI: Miami, and CSI: New York.
Now get ready for CSI: Ohio.
Governor Kasich's first executive order created the Common Sense Initiative, which will be led by Lt. Governor Mary Taylor. This effort focuses on eliminating unnecessary red tape for businesses interacting with state government and should have wide-ranging implications for businesses of every size in Ohio.
The CSI executive order further directs agencies to assist the Lt. Governor to analyze the economic impact of regulations on businesses, enhance the state's technology infrastructure for notification of rule/regulatory changes, rewrite rules to be easier to understand, and balance the objective of all rules with the cost of compliance.
Incentive Compliance: We can help
Through our Incentive Compliance and Assistance Practice (I-CAP), Hicks Partners helps companies complete economic development transactions and maintain compliance with state and local regulations. With Job Creation Tax Credit (JCTC) annual reports due March 1, now is a good time to ensure economic incentives are handled properly.
Hicks Partners can help companies complete JCTC reports and assist those that may still need to meet job creation or investment commitments. For more information about Hicks Partners' I-CAP services, please contact Emily Turner.
Ohio Chamber Launches Campaign for Jobs
 The Ohio Chamber of Commerce has launched the "Campaign for Jobs" to promote pro-growth economic policies and competitiveness. This new initiative represents an aggressive and ambitious agenda to foster economic vitality, creativity and innovation throughout Ohio. The goals of the campaign address major issues such as reforming state and local government, restructuring economic development, and reducing general business costs. Brian Hicks is proud to serve on the Ohio Chamber's Board of Directors. For more information about this important initiative, contact Campaign for Jobs.
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Ohio Third Frontier - Changes Are Coming | | |
In the coming months, the Kasich Administration intends to "rebalance" the Ohio Third Frontier Project by introducing changes that will enhance OTF's accessibility to small businesses, provide greater transparency in funding awards, and focus the project closer to the "development" side of the R&D continuum. It is also likely that OTF will operate within the JobsOhio structure in the future.
Even as OTF is reviewed for improvements, new funding opportunities have been released. Requests for Proposals for Sensors and Advanced Materials projects were released in early January. Letters of intent for these RFPs are due on February 15, with final proposals due to the state on March 18.
For more information on the coming changes to the Ohio Third Frontier Project or to explore how Hicks Partners can help you secure funding, please contact Brian Hicks. |
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Statehouse Agenda | | |
Hitting the ground running
With Ohio facing a budget deficit of at least an $8 billion, members of the 129th General Assembly are gearing up to work diligently with the Kasich administration to meet the July 1 deadline for a statutory balanced budget. In addition to deep spending cuts, the upcoming budget debate is expected to include significant government reform and restructuring, with a particular emphasis on transforming Ohio's healthcare delivery system. Governor Kasich is expected to unveil his budget by mid March.
Dozens of bills have been introduced in the Ohio House of Representatives. Priority bills include HB 1 (creating JobsOhio), HB 2 (requiring state agency performance audits), and HB 3 (abolishing Ohio's estate tax).
Other measures designed to improve Ohio's economic competitivenes s include:
- HB 10, which creates a refundable tax credit for completion of a voluntary action to remediate an environmentally contaminated site;
- HB 17, which provides for a $2,400 income tax withholding credit for companies that hire unemployed individuals; and,
- HB 18, which authorizes a non-refundable tax credit for businesses that increase payroll and expand into a vacant facility.
Other legislation expected to receive attention during the early days of the session include repeal of major portions of the evidence-based school funding, expanding school choice options, and efforts to combat prescription drug abuse.
No legislation has been introduced in Ohio Senate yet. In addition to the budget and job creation legislation, Senate priorities are expected to include reforming Ohio's workers compensation, collective bargaining, and public pension systems. |
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Holzapfel Joins Hicks Partners | | |
An excellent addition to our team
Hicks Partners is pleased to announce the addition of W. Zachary Holzapfel as Vice President. In this role, Zach will develop legislative strategies for public and private-sector clients and represent client matters before the Governor's office, cabinet members, Ohio General Assembly, Congress and local governments.
Holzapfel is a 10-year government relations professional with a wealth of experience in state and local government. He has deep background in healthcare, insurance, Medicaid and budget policy matters. At Hicks Partners, Holzapfel will continue to focus on these issues while supporting the firm's current clients with legislative and executive branch government relations services.
Contact Zach Holzapfel to learn more about how he can assist you with your government relations needs. |
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