More local and state criticism for JobsOhio program
More local and state criticism for JobsOhio program
BOARDMAN
Two Ohio House members and the Youngstown City Council president, all Democrats, criticized Republican Gov. John Kasich and JobsOhio for giving a $4.5 million tax credit to a company that is closing its Boardman facility.
In Sunday’s Vindicator, it was reported that JobsOhio, a privatized nonprofit created by Kasich’s administration to run the state’s economic-development efforts, recommended the job creation tax credit that was approved by the Ohio Tax Credit Authority.
The tax credit keeps Verizon in Ohio, but will result in the company closing its Boardman facility, which employs 381, by early next year.
Only 11 Verizon employees will keep their jobs in Boardman. The rest are being asked to relocate to central Ohio, Tennessee, North Carolina or South Carolina or take a severance package.
Kasich and JobsOhio are “poaching jobs from the Mahoning Valley,” said state Rep. Ronald V. Gerberry, D-59th, of Austintown, at a press conference today with state Rep. Robert F. Hagan, D-58th, of Youngstown, and Youngstown Council President Jamael Tito Brown.
Kasich and JobsOhio officials have said the tax credit was given to Verizon to keep the company in Ohio.
For the complete story, read Tuesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com