As published in the September 1, 2011 Toledo Business Journal
Mark Kvamme,
JobsOhio
JobsOhio to provide new ED resources to region
Toledo Business Journal recently interviewed Mark Kvamme, director of job creation at JobsOhio. He shared the following thoughts:
Toledo Business Journal: JobsOhio will bring changes to the process of economic development in Ohio. Can you discuss the new economic development regions that will be put in place as this relates to northwest Ohio?
Mark Kvamme: What we are doing is working closely with the regional development organizations. In the northwest Ohio area, we are working with the Regional Growth Partnership (RGP). The key thing of what we are trying to do there is to work very closely with the people that have intimate knowledge of the region and its industries to ensure that we are being as responsive as possible
Six regions are being set up and we are working with six different groups in the following areas: Toledo, Dayton, Cleveland, Columbus, the Appalachian region and Cincinnati. There will be approximately 20 counties in the northwest Ohio region.
TBJ: Can you discuss potential new resources that will be made available to local and regional economic development organizations in northwest Ohio to fund agency operations and economic development activities?
MK: We are working with the regions and Third Frontier to provide resources for each of the regional organizations to help in building attraction and retention services for new companies as well as existing companies. Each region will have seven-figure type opportunities to participate in further resources. Approximately $2 million dollars may head to your area to be used for local and regional economic development. The area has not had those resources in the past.
TBJ: Can you discuss the new role that the Regional Growth Partnership will play with JobsOhio?
MK: The key role is that they are going to be our eyes and ears for the region. The other thing we are doing is working very closely with the other regions. We are bringing together all the regional partners on a regular basis so we can figure out how we can lift Ohio. One of the things you find is that when companies decide to come here its usually a two-fold question. They think about coming to the Ohio area and then they decide which region is best for their business. For example, if it’s in the medical area they look closely at Cleveland. If it’s in northwest Ohio there’s plenty to do with the University of Toledo (UT), First Solar, and glass and auto capabilities. Each region has their specialty and we want each region to champion their specialties throughout the State.
The RGP and the other organizations like it will have responsibilities for both administering this money and then actual performance criteria for economic development efforts with JobsOhio. They have all put in the detailed reports to the Third Frontier explaining how they will use these funds. We are monitoring this very closely
TBJ: Can you discuss JobsOhio plans for new personnel in northwest Ohio to support economic development activities?
MK: Approximately two or three people for the northwest region, but I’m not sure. They will be people who work for the RGP that the JobsOhio resources will be used for. My whole philosophy is that you can’t give somebody the responsibility without giving them the authority. What we really want to do is give them full responsibility.
TBJ: What impact do you see on the timing and speed of approvals for economic development projects and how will this compare to the former Ohio Department of Development operations?
MK: Under the current public sector approach, customer service is severely lacking, and there is a slow and cumbersome approval process. Proactive sales efforts are seemingly non-existent; participation from corporate-level executives is limited; coordination with regions needs improving; and there is an inability to maintain confidential information.
Now, we’re all private economic development organizations. Our goal is to work much more quickly and much more expeditiously. We would like to move at the speed of the market versus the speed of statutes. It also gives us a lot more flexibility in how we work with these companies and not having to deal with some of the other bureaucratic things we had to deal with in the past.
TBJ: Can you provide an update of the status of funding for the JobsOhio initiative?
MK: We are currently dealing with getting money and receiving money from a couple of organizations and we continue to talk to several organizations about raising private funds as outlined.
We are negotiating a contract that will allow Ohio liquor sales to be channeled into this fund, however, It will probably not happen until the first part of 2012.
TBJ: Are there any other issues concerning JobsOhio that you wish to address?
MK: We are just getting started. Currently, we have six employees. We won’t be to full capacity until around October. There is much work to be done as the new JobsOhio is put in place.