When it comes to making the necessary improvements to Ohio’s economy and creating jobs for our citizens, there is a lot to take into consideration. Many questions arise, such as what the proper balance between the public and private sectors should be, what is keeping businesses from growing and hiring, and how we can get workers trained to do many of the jobs that are already available across the state.

The Ohio Office of Workforce Transformation has certainly been a helpful resource in trying to get Ohioans working again. Not only is it assisting workers in getting the training they need, but it is keeping data on what works and what doesn’t when it comes to workforce development.

Another huge aspect of the office is its work with OhioMeansJobs.com. Throughout my time in office, I have continually committed myself to making constituents aware of the jobs and job resources that are available to them. The Ohio Means Jobs website is a crucial, one-stop shop for doing so.

In addition to helping people find jobs to apply for, I believe it’s extremely important that we are delving into why businesses are or are not hiring people. I have met with many businesses in our area to help them address some of the problems that they are facing. By taking corrective action, we can help incentivize these businesses, large and small, to expand and create more jobs.

Whether it is providing tax incentives for expansion, keeping healthcare costs down, or simply reducing burdensome regulations on business, the House has made significant progress during the past two years. I’m also pleased that Ohio’s unemployment rate has been trending downward, below the national level.

There’s a lot more to do, though. I intend to keep meeting with business owners in our neck of the woods to ensure their needs are being met. I’ll also continue to keep you updated on resources like Ohio Means Jobs and upcoming job fairs as I’m made aware of them. With people working, the families of the 99th District will certainly be better off.