Small businesses play a significant role in every Ohio community’s economic vitality and job creation. Your advocacy on policy issues ranging from creating a more streamlined legal landscape and workers’ compensation reforms to conforming the tax code and spearheading efforts to give small businesses relief from the financial impact of COVID-19 has been instrumental. 

I am particularly proud of our partnership to bring high speed Internet to all Ohioans. To compete with China and to succeed in a tech-focused economy, broad access to reliable high-speed Internet is imperative for Ohio’s future. 

House Bill 2, which NFIB strongly supported, provides incentives for private broadband carriers to connect more Ohioans. The bill safeguards taxpayer dollars by requiring certain benchmarks are achieved.

The reality is, the benefits of adequate Internet access are intertwined with virtually every aspect of our society, from education and workforce development to telemedicine and work mobility.

Giving our rural and underserved areas access will be a boon not only for our small businesses and local economies, but also for children and students—Ohio’s future workforce. 

We know Ohio’s workforce and talent pool are second to none, and we are investing substantially in career, technical, and vocational education training to help tens of thousands more Ohioans each year prepare for quality, high-paying jobs without the burden of college debt.

A testament to Ohio’s industrious workforce and pro-business policies, Intel chose Ohio for its $20 billion semiconductor factories, which will bring more than 20,000 good-paying jobs to the Buckeye State. 

As you know, the impact of a project of this magnitude means seismic opportunity for a host of Ohio industries. More than 140 existing Ohio businesses across the state are already part of Intel’s supply chain. 

Advocates and industry experts like NFIB are fundamental in harnessing the immense opportunity that this development can offer Ohio. The downstream supply chain and business demand alone will bring generational opportunity to businesses, communities, and families statewide; it’s projected to add $2.8 billion to Ohio’s annual gross state product. 

Small businesses are the backbone of our great state. Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted and I are grateful for NFIB’s partnership as we work to make Ohio, not just the best state in the Midwest for businesses and families, but the best in the nation.