Ohio Bipartisan Job Stimulus Plan - Bioproducts Job Stimulus Program
On June 12, 2007, Governor Ted Strickland signed a $1.57 billion bipartisan job stimulus plan (HB 554) to create new jobs in the near term while laying the foundation for future economic prosperity. The Job Stimulus Plan creates a $50 million Bioproducts Job Stimulus Program to leverage the tremendous industrial and research strengths Ohio has in agriculture, polymers, chemicals, and advanced materials. By aligning these industrial sectors, the state is poised to be a world leader in a new market - products made from biobased materials. This in turn will encourage innovation, development and commercialization of bioproducts, and the expansion and attraction of high job growth potential bioproduct companies. The funding that the Ohio General Assembly has appropriated for the Biomedical Stimulus and Bioproducts Stimulus are currently under consideration by a court as part of the legal review of the Tobacco Settlement litigation. At this time, the court has not resolved the release of these funds.
In the meantime, the State of Ohio continues to prioritize these two industry sectors by providing funding for related projects through alternative programs.