Title
To express support for State Issue 1 for the renewal and continuation of the nationally acclaimed Ohio Third Frontier program.
Body
WHEREAS, the Ohio Third Frontier initiative was created to preserve and create jobs, enhance educational opportunities, and improve the quality of life and general well-being of residents and businesses throughout our state by expanding Ohio's research capabilities to promote product innovation, development and commercialization to create jobs; and
WHEREAS, the Ohio Third Frontier program has laid the foundation for the creation and growth of technology-based jobs and businesses, increased early stage capital investments, improved the environment for technology entrepreneurs, increased collaboration in research and development, and enhanced our economic competitiveness and diversity; and
WHEREAS, the Third Frontier program has already created more than 48,000 jobs since its inception; and
WHEREAS, the State of Ohio's Third Frontier initiative has delivered measurable results by investing $681 million since 2002, which has yielded $6.6 billion in economic activity; and
WHEREAS, Issue 1 will continue to foster job creation through the advancement of new products and services based on science and technology research and development, thus ensuring Ohio's ability to create and compete for jobs, today and in the future; and
WHEREAS, the Ohio General Assembly deserves much appreciation for its strong bipartisan support of the Third Frontier program and its placement of the constitutional amendment on the ballot; and
WHEREAS, the Ohio Third Frontier Initiative is a grants program, supported by State of Ohio bonds, that will support technology-based businesses and research efforts; focusing on the State's strengths in technology and innovation to create high-wage jobs, new growth companies, and globally competitive products; and
WHEREAS, the city of Columbus has benefitted from the Ohio Third Frontier initiative and should continue to see positive results upon passage of Issue 1, as Ohio's most promising technologies will receive critical funding; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That Columbus City Council does hereby support the passage of State Issue 1 to continue the investment in the Ohio Third Frontier for the promotion of job growth and capital investment in the State of Ohio.