Ohio panel approves parts of JobsOhio agreement

COLUMBUS (AP) — A state legislative panel has signed off contracts related to empowering the state’s new private job-creation partnership, JobsOhio.

Last week, Gov. John Kasich announced an agreement between the state budget and commerce departments to transfer the state liquor business to JobsOhio for the next 25 years. The deal is worth $1.4 billion.

As part of the plan, the state Controlling Board today approved a contract to allow the state Commerce Department to continue to distribute and sell liquor in Ohio.

The panel approved a separate contract that makes clear that JobsOhio will take over job creation duties once housed in Ohio’s development department. It also allowed the state to send $2.8 million to JobsOhio, including a portion of the amount that was previously set aside for start-up costs.