Private JobsOhio move will cost 211 state jobs

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

More than 200 state jobs will be eliminated as Ohio shifts its economic development functions to a new semi-private jobs board.

Gov. John Kasich reported to the Legislature on Thursday that he expects 211 cuts over the next year at the Ohio Department of Development. The number represents 40 percent of the department.

Many of the jobs will be eliminated through attrition or retirement, so the actual job-loss figure will be lower.

The administration is proposing moving several programs to JobsOhio: strategic business investment, loans and loan servicing, a portion of the grants and tax incentives program and tourism.

Kasich created JobsOhio earlier this year to create and keep jobs in Ohio. He says the structure will allow Ohio to be more nimble.