(2) "Technologies or markets of interest" includes advanced | 16 |
materials, manufacturing, bioscience, advanced energy, food | 17 |
technology, aerospace, automotive, medical products and devices, | 18 |
and instruments, controls, and electronics. | 19 |
(B) There is hereby created the Edison jobs development | 20 |
program to support Ohio companies in making a transition to, or | 21 |
expanding their presence in, technologies or markets of interest | 22 |
identified by the department of development for the purpose of | 23 |
creating or retaining jobs in this state. The department shall | 24 |
administer the program in accordance with sections 122.09 to | 25 |
122.095 of the Revised Code. Under the program, eligible companies | 26 |
may apply to the department for monetary assistance to be used for | 27 |
product development, product testing or certification, process | 28 |
improvement, workforce training, new market or new industry | 29 |
transitioning, or existing market expansion. | 30 |
Sec. 122.091. To participate in the Edison jobs development | 42 |
program, a company shall first attend an outreach seminar offered | 43 |
by the department of development in conjunction with the | 44 |
appropriate Edison centers. The seminars shall include | 45 |
presentations from industry experts that are designed to educate | 46 |
attendees about opportunities in technologies or markets of | 47 |
interest; what factors must be taken into consideration when | 48 |
making the decision, such as business plan development, retooling | 49 |
or purchasing equipment, retraining workers, gaining regulatory | 50 |
approval to enter certain markets, and marketing and distribution | 51 |
strategies; and how to proceed through the process. Seminars shall | 52 |
be held at least monthly and in various regions of the state. | 53 |
Sec. 122.093. Each company that is awarded a grant under the | 79 |
Edison jobs development program shall receive high quality | 80 |
training and consulting services financed with the grant and the | 81 |
company match. All such services shall be provided by industry | 82 |
experts or contractors selected and managed by the appropriate | 83 |
Edison centers. The centers shall consult with each grant | 84 |
recipient to design a comprehensive program of services that best | 85 |
serves the needs of that particular company. They shall also | 86 |
assemble and make available to each company information as to the | 87 |
availability of any other financial assistance offered by the | 88 |
state for which the company may qualify. | 89 |
Sec. 122.094. The department of development may contract | 90 |
with the appropriate Edison centers to facilitate the management | 91 |
of the Edison jobs development program, including with respect to | 92 |
grant administration and the collection and distribution of funds | 93 |
from the state and each company match. During the period in which | 94 |
a company is receiving assistance under the program, the centers | 95 |
shall monitor the progress of the company with respect to jobs | 96 |
created or retained, cost savings achieved, or increased company | 97 |
revenue or capital investment and, on at least a quarterly basis, | 98 |
submit their findings to the department. The centers shall also be | 99 |
responsible for ensuring that companies comply with all grant | 100 |
requirements. | 101 |
Sec. 184.19. The third frontier research and development | 106 |
fund is hereby created in the state treasury. The fund shall | 107 |
consist of the net proceeds of the obligations issued and sold by | 108 |
the issuing authority pursuant to sections 151.01 and 151.10 of | 109 |
the Revised Code. Investment earnings of the fund shall be | 110 |
credited to the fund. Moneys in the fund shall be used in | 111 |
accordance with sections 122.09 to 122.095 and sections 184.10 to | 112 |
184.18 and 184.20 of the Revised Code and for associated | 113 |
administrative expenses. | 114 |
Sec. 184.191. The third frontier research and development | 115 |
taxable bond fund is hereby created in the state treasury. The | 116 |
fund shall consist of the net proceeds of federally taxable | 117 |
obligations issued and sold by the issuing authority pursuant to | 118 |
sections 151.01 and 151.10 of the Revised Code. Investment | 119 |
earnings of the fund shall be credited to the fund. Moneys in the | 120 |
fund shall be used in accordance with sections 122.09 to 122.095 | 121 |
and sections 184.10 to 184.18 and 184.20 of the Revised Code and | 122 |
for associated administrative expenses. | 123 |
Within the limits set forth in this act, the Director of | 144 |
Budget and Management shall establish accounts indicating the | 145 |
source and amount of funds for each appropriation made in this | 146 |
act, and shall determine the form and manner in which | 147 |
appropriation accounts shall be maintained. Expenditures from | 148 |
appropriations contained in this act shall be accounted for as | 149 |
though made in the main operating appropriations act of the 129th | 150 |
General Assembly. | 151 |