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State Senator Bill Beagle
The Miami
Valley on the Road to Economic Prosperity
When I first joined the Ohio Senate nearly four years ago, our
unemployment rate was almost in the double digits, Ohio had lost
350,000 jobs in four years, and business closures were becoming all too
common. Today, jobs are returning, our family and friends are going
back to work, and our unemployment rate is steadily declining.
In fact, our region is leading the state in job creation. Over
2,000 new jobs have been announced in our community since January of
this year alone, and our region is filled with skilled workers,
innovative ideas and creativity. Since 2011, Ohio businesses
statewide have created over 262,000 jobs, and our unemployment rate
plummeted from over 9% to 5.3%. We can expect this to be just the
beginning of our comeback.
Creating job-friendly policies so that businesses can stay and grow
with a talented workforce was our first step on the road to bringing
Ohio back to economic prosperity. We did this by making sure our state
budget was balanced and fixing an $8 billion budget shortfall without
increasing taxes. Small businesses employ about half of the workers in
Ohio, so we cut the small business tax by 75%. I also introduced
legislation creating a $25 million fund to help train skilled workers
for in-demand jobs.
And we’re seeing the results. Just last week I attended a
groundbreaking for Whirlpool in Greenville that will create 400 new
jobs. A week before that, I attended PSA Airline’s announcement of
expansion at the Dayton Airport. I also recently toured Abbott Labs and
Meijer in Tipp City where they have created 340 new jobs between them.
Earlier this year, I joined auto-glass supplier Fuyao as it decided to
resurrect GM’s Moraine Assembly Plant for its 800 new employees. The
building, which stood empty and overgrown, was a haunting reminder of
the hundreds of families who lost their livelihood when GM closed its
doors. Soon it will come back to life and provide hope and real
opportunities for many families.
This is great news, but I know we still have too many people out of
work or underemployed. If you, or someone you know, are looking for
employment, I encourage you to visit OhioMeansJobs.com. This website
will help you map out a career plan, search for jobs by area or field,
and post your resume for employers to see. New jobs are posted daily,
so check back often to see if there’s something new for you.
As our work continues, we can expect to see more jobs and successes
coming to our region. Together, we can continue to make our community
grow and thrive.
Senator Bill Beagle serves the people of Ohio’s 5th Senate District,
which includes Miami and Preble Counties as well as portions of
Montgomery and Darke Counties. He presides as the Chairman of the
Senate Committee on Workforce & Economic Development.
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