All across Ohio, I hear from people who are concerned that we are not doing enough to compete in the modern economy, and the data is clear: the current trickle-down, pay-to-play approach is not working. Ohio is 45th in unemployment, 45th in recent GDP growth, and most regions are struggling to retain good jobs. Even highly touted projects like Intel are struggling or being cancelled.

Whenever you’re 45th in anything – especially after giving away billions in taxpayer dollars – you need to take a hard look at what you’re doing. So on my first day as Governor, I will work with leaders across the state to do a full, top-to-bottom review of Jobs Ohio, requiring more transparency and greater accountability so we can put forward a new plan to grow our economy.

Across government, I will focus on supporting small businesses, advancing regional economic development, expanding workforce development and skills training, and investing in the modern infrastructure we need to compete, from broadband to transportation. Most importantly, when our state makes investments, we must ensure those investments lead to good jobs for Ohio workers, instead of simply padding the bottom lines of big out-of-state corporations.

We must learn that in the 21st-century economy, building the best quality of life possible is the surest way to attract and retain the talented workers it takes to build a strong economy.