Source: Sun Star-Courier
Author: Emily Hanford
State Rep. Mike Dovilla, R-18, hosted a Jobs Summit in Strongsville Jan. 26. Dovilla invited local business owners, city leaders and tradesmen from District 18 to participate in a dialogue about making Ohio’s businesses and industries more competitive.
“The best way to do that is to have an adult discussion about solving issues in the state,” Dovilla said. “I want to have a conversation with people in this room to do that.”
Four panelists, including Dovilla, shared their thoughts on how to make current businesses flourish and how Ohio can create jobs.
Panelist Dr. Dennis Miller, a professor at Baldwin-Wallace College, said colleges and universities should be responsible for adjusting curriculum based on what employers want of new employees.
“There are jobs in Ohio but we need to provide an educated workforce that meets the needs of the modern day employer,” Miller said. “First, institutions need to promote internships to better train students and community colleges need to improve communication with employers to design curriculum around job requirements.”
Advisor and business leader, Shawn Upchurch, said Ohioans need to have more trust in the Ohio market, “We’re our own worst enemy and it’s cascading out. We make it hard on ourselves to be successful in Northeast Ohio,” he said.
A representative from Senator Rob Portman’s office also joined the panel. According to the representative, Portman’s office is giving special attention to economic development.
“It’s unusual for a state senator to be focused on economic development but the senator is stressing the importance of development throughout the state,” Portman’s rep said. “There is even a staff member dedicated to working with economic development efforts and encouraging people to invest in Ohio.”
Dovilla also talked about state initiatives that could help job creation and retention in the future. Jobs Ohio is a non-profit organization run by Ohio business leaders experimenting with a new approach to economic development.
Another program is the Common Sense Initiative started by the governor’s office, “This group will look at government regulations and determine if they are in line with creating jobs and moving jobs forward.”
Strongsville Mayor Thomas Perciak was pleased the event took place in the city.
“It’s important that elected officials at the state level are in front of as many local business owners as possible so they can receive as much state attention as possible,” said the mayor.