General
By Admin
The Veteran’s Bonus Program, which the voters of Ohio approved in November of 2009, was allocated funds on March 22nd in order to begin preparation for the program.
Veterans’ issues are important to me as a veteran, a legislator, and a citizen of this nation. I am happy to have the opportunity to announce that this program is moving forward, and that Ohio’s veterans will have the opportunity and chance to be honored in this way.
The bonus program, approved by the Legislature as House Joint Resolution 1, will offer bonuses to service men and women who have returned from the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts. It carries on a time-honored tradition of veteran support in the state. Since the Civil War, Ohio has provided bonuses and benefits to veterans, honoring the men and women who served in both World Wars, as well as the Korean and Vietnam conflicts.
The Ohio Department of Veterans Services will administer the program, and funding will ultimately come from the bond proceeds.
House Bill 461, the legislation that will implement the Veterans Bonus, is currently being heard I in the Ohio House Finance Committee. A floor vote is expected soon.
Filed in: General
By Admin
It was recently announced that the Village of Frankfort will receive a state grant for $500,000 to help fix problems with the water system in the Ross County community.
It is great to see money coming back in to the communities here in Southern Ohio. I have had the opportunity to discuss this project with the Village Mayor and Village Council and I am really very happy to see that all of their hard work paid off, and that they will be able to receive this funding to better the community.
The grant will allow the village to address water systems leaks and faulty meters. The Village plans to replace approximately 27,547 linear feet of waterline and construct a new water storage tank. The estimated $3.8 million project will assist 469 households.
The Water and Sanitary Sewer Program is administered by the Ohio Department of Development’s Office of Housing and Community Partnerships and helps local governments maintain, improve, and expand water and sanitary sewer systems.
Filed in: General
By Admin
Rep. Ray Pryor’s Report to the People
“Ohio is the top state for alternative energy investment” – The Conway New Plant Report
And fortunately, enterprising leaders around the state aren’t stopping at number one. American Electric Power <www.aep.com> plans to add 1,000 megawatts of new wind energy by 2011. And one of their subsidiaries, Appalachian Power Co. <www.appalachianpower.com> has forged a 20-year agreement <www.aep.com/newsroom/newsreleases/?id=1489> to purchase renewable wind energy from a wind farm, Beech Ridge Energy, LLC. They will purchase between 100 and 147 megawatts in the first phase from the wind farm, which is expected to be up and running by March 31, 2010. AEP has additional requests out for up to 600 megawatts of renewable energy.
Additionally, Rotek Incorporated’s <www.rotek-inc.com/> Aurora, Ohio plant will undergo $82 million in expansion. This is expected to add 150 new jobs in the plant that manufactures slewing ring bearings, which is used in the wind industry.
These initiatives are strongly supported by our government leaders in Ohio. The Ohio Department of Development’s Ohio Energy Office <www.development.ohio.gov/cdd/oee/> administers $3.5 million in state grants for solar hot water systems and wind technologies, under what is called the Advanced Energy Fund <development.ohio.gov/cdd/oee/GrantsLoans.htm>. The grants provide support for the distribution and advancement of energy technologies in the service areas of one of Ohio’s four participating electric distribution companies. These grants are for smaller-scale consumers in an effort to stimulate Ohio’s market for smaller wind and solar thermal industries. They complement the manufacturing efforts across Ohio, aiming to attract the high-skilled jobs of a new energy economy.
In a time when the national dialogue is so focused on how we will develop for a sustainable future, Ohio is primed to be a longtime leader. Attention to these efforts has paid off so far, and there is still opportunity to do much more. Ohio has long been known for producing people and ideas that lead the nation and the world, and these accomplishments are proof that Ohio’s future holds promise and innovation for generations to come.
The national economy is struggling, and too many Ohioans are struggling as well. These tough times require the use of every resource we have to jumpstart our economy and create jobs. If we don’t take action and work to move our economy forward, we risk putting Ohio further behind once the national recession lifts.
The Ohio House <www.house.state.oh.us/> has taken action to use federal stimulus money to immediately begin creating jobs and positioning our economy for long-term growth. Ohio is getting $5.8 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act - a shot in the arm to our ailing economy – a bold move to get it healthy again.
These dollars are about jobs. By attracting industry to our state, the free market can promote a healthy economy as we come out on the other side of this recession. Sustainable growth and prosperity begins with the action we take now.
There are a few major ways the federal funds will come to Ohio. For one, the stimulus bill includes money for federally guaranteed loans under the Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Program. Loans backed by the government help in an economic climate where credit is still frozen for too many businesses. The loans will go toward businesses that invest in emerging technologies. New industries not only create jobs in the short-term, but they also help other businesses to grow alongside them, providing long-term economic development.
We are also using federal funds to invest in infrastructure. $1.1 billion of our transportation budget went toward keeping our roadways safe. Good roads also allow small businesses to move their goods and industry to develop along transportation corridors. The jobs created as a result can invigorate communities. We’ve pulled down $629 million for energy efficiency, green technologies, and weatherization. These are investments that reap lasting benefits. For example, weatherizing our buildings decreases energy use and increases cost savings. When people save money on energy, they invest it back into the economy.
There are many opportunities for investments now that save money later. $26 million will support preventive health care services. Countless studies show that the more we invest in preventive measures like wellness and regular doctor visits, the more long-term costs we save. And we’ve also used stimulus funds to support vital services in Ohio, such as Medicaid, unemployment compensation, and school lunches. In tough times, when more and more Ohioans are in need, it is critical to maintain our social safety net. We’ve also invested $38 million from the federal government to uphold our police forces to help keep citizens safe.
These are unique times. With major layoffs and foreclosures in the news, we must act to put Ohio back on the road to prosperity. The investments we are making will help get Ohio’s economy moving again and improve our financial position for tomorrow.
Filed in: Economic Development, General, Notes from Representative Ray Pryor
By Admin
To the editor:
As the State Representative of the 85th House District, it has been my pleasure to meet with and hear from constituents throughout the district. Since being elected in November, I have had numerous opportunities to assist citizens and learn more about the needs of Ohio and the 85th
District. I would like to review some of what has been accomplished so far.
My office has been working with constituents on a daily basis since we began. Many
constituents come for assistance, and many others come with ideas for making change in Ohio. I was happy to meet with citizens in Circleville, Washington Court House, and Chillicothe.
“Town Hall” style meetings have also been a way for me to meet constituents, keep them
informed, and address their concerns.
My office has created a Veterans Advisory Group, Education Advisory Group, Economic
Development and an Agriculture Group as a resource in the district to came back to with and for
ideas. One of the many pieces of legislation is the veterans’ bonus resolution that is now part of Ohio law.
The State budget, of course, is a top priority. We are working within committees to meet the
needs of the State in a responsible way. As it is early in the process, there are still many
unanswered questions regarding the budget and I welcome any input from constituents. I will
continue to provide information as it becomes available.
At the web site www.recovery.ohio.gov , the public can find updated information on the
stimulus package from the Federal Government to the State of Ohio. Monitoring this website
will allow constituents to stay aware of the current availability and how the stimulus money is
being used in Ohio.
Community organizations, local governments, and individuals can submit requests for stimulus
grants. As the grants are very competitive, we advise monitoring the website for updates and
submission deadlines. For assistance in applying, please contact my office. It is my intention
that the 85th District will receive an equitable amount of the stimulus money.
Community input is always welcome. Citizens can contact my office by phone at 614.644.7928,
email at district85@ohr.state.oh.us. or mail at any time.
Sincerely,
Representative Ray Pryor
Ohio 85th House District
Filed in: Economic Development, General, Notes from Representative Ray Pryor