Ohio Governor Mike DeWine closed a busy week with the announcement that Bayer plans to invest $2.2 billion in a new pharmaceutical manufacturing site in New Albany, a project expected to create around 600 high-value jobs and roughly 1,500 construction jobs.
"Bayer is a globally respected life sciences company that could have chosen to build this new facility anywhere in the United States — and it chose Ohio," DeWine said. "This project firmly solidifies Ohio's place among global biomanufacturing leaders as a destination for life sciences investment."
Earlier in the week, DeWine, Lt. Governor Tressel, and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik announced the approval of five projects expected to create 1,173 new jobs, retain 601 jobs statewide, and bring more than $431 million in investments across Ohio. The projects are expected to result in more than $79 million in new payroll.
DeWine also directed Ohio EPA to begin the process of ending the E-Check vehicle emissions testing program in Northeast Ohio, after the U.S. EPA redesignated the region as meeting the federal ozone standard in June. "Decades of work to reduce pollution have finally paid off to the extent that we no longer believe E-Check is needed to maintain federal air quality standards in Northeast Ohio," DeWine said.
More than $6 million in Appalachian Regional Commission funding will go toward five projects supporting workforce and economic development in communities impacted by the downturn of the coal industry. "As our economy continues to evolve, we have a responsibility to ensure we're investing in those same communities and the people who call them home," DeWine said.
DeWine signed House Bill 519 into law, sponsored by State Representative Andrea White (R-Kettering), to prohibit possession of an electronic device while committing a motor vehicle theft offense, temporarily reduce certain motor fuel taxes, levy a temporary retail tax on certain motor fuel, make appropriations to supplement the loss of motor fuel tax revenues, and declare an emergency.
Sales of Ohio's Dolly Parton's Imagination Library specialty license plate more than doubled following the country music icon's death on August 25. Ohioans purchased 533 plates from January 1 to August 24, with sales surging to 1,113 plates since her death. "The surge in license plate sales shows how strongly Ohioans value early literacy and how much they appreciate Dolly and all she has done to put books in the hands of children," DeWine said.
DeWine also continued his H2Ohio tour, visiting Cincinnati, Cleveland Heights, and Toledo to highlight work removing lead pipes, reducing road salt runoff, and restoring wetlands. "By supporting farming best practices and restoring wetlands, H2Ohio has made significant progress in improving water quality and reducing the amount of phosphorus going into the Lake," he said.
Lt. Governor Tressel visited schools across the state for the Team Tressel Fitness Challenge, which has more than 655,000 student participants, and called on Ohio businesses to support students by connecting with local schools and providing incentives.