Judy Gilleland - City Manager
This week local economic developers were introduced to how the new Jobs Ohio program of ODOD will work. Kristi Tanner, former Marketing Director for the Ohio Business Development Coalition, a public/private partnership, addressed the Cincinnati USA economic development group. Ms. Tanner has been appointed Assistant Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Department of Development. She conveyed that her department will manage new development projects starting October 1, and that although the department is still in transition, it is expected to be fully functional by January 1, 2012. Of the many changes underway, a significant change will be the handling of “leads” generated by site selectors. This role will be shifted to local entities. The responsibility for projects to the north of SR63 will primarily be the Dayton Development Coalition, although leads may also come from the Cincinnati USA Chamber. The City interacts with both entities and will continue to grow relationships with them in order to further economic development.