Chambers support leasing of turnpike
Staff report
Eight Ohio-based metropolitan chambers of commerce and the Ohio Chamber on Wednesday sent a letter to Ohio Gov. John Kasich, expressing support for the state’s exploration of a possible Ohio Turnpike lease.
In the letter, chamber leaders said “the time is now for a thorough examination of this important state asset.”
The chambers agreed that examining a lease of the Ohio Turnpike is consistent with its plan to move the state forward. That plan, Redesigning Ohio – Transforming Government into a 21st Century Institution, that highlights ways the state could think differently about existing business practices.
The coalition of nine chambers of commerce represents Ohio’s larger metro areas as well as the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.
The participating metropolitan chambers of commerce are: Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, Columbus Chamber, Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, Greater Akron Chamber, Greater Cleveland Partnership, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce and Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber.
Tom Humphries, president and CEO of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, is chairman of the chamber coalition.
The state has received $1.5 million to help study whether leasing the Ohio Turnpike is a good business decision. That money previously had been revoked.