A business group that formed five years ago to promote bob growth in the state has adopted Gov. John Kasich’s budget priorities as its next project, which could entail and advertising campaign and other outreach efforts.

A business group that formed five years ago to promote bob growth in the state has adopted Gov. John Kasich’s budget priorities as its next project, which could entail and advertising campaign and other outreach efforts.

Ohio’s Campaign for Jobs is funded by the Partnership for Ohio’s Future, which includes groups such as the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Cleveland Partnership.

The coalition has already issued reports promoting several concepts contained in the Republican’s $55.5 billion biennium budget (HB 153), including revisions to Ohio’s criminal sentencing laws and local governments.

Chamber Vice President Linda Woggon said the latest “grassroots initiative” by the coalition would entail a coordinated lobbying effort to make sure those ideas are retained throughout the legislative deliberations.

“We will be watching very carefully to make sure the transformative changes are not watered down,” she said.

Ms. Woggon said Ohio’s Campaign for Jobs is not involved in any ballot issues and therefore won’t be registered as such a committee with the state, however the group could air ads in legislative districts to promote its cause.

She said the business coalition’s budget priorities also include Mr. Kasich’s proposals for education, Medicaid and JobsOhio, or the privatization of the Department of Development with funding from liquor sales.

“Ohio is at a major crossroads. Our recovery depends upon the transformative reforms in the Jobs Budget,” she said. “Ohio’s Campaign for Jobs will make sure all Ohio legislators know the majority of their constituencies stand solidly behind them as they cast the tough votes that will help make Ohio great again.”

Carol Caruso, vice president of Advocacy for the Greater Cleveland Partnership, said in a news release that the education proposals “put student achievement first by directing dollars away from the administrative costs that overburden our system and toward high-quality teachers.”

Roger Geiger, vice president/executive director of NFIB-Ohio, said his group is “standing together with other campaign leaders to make sure the small businesses that are the economic engine of Ohio have an environment in which they can grow and thrive.”

Regarding local government issues, Barbara Benton, Vice President, Governmental Affairs, at the Ohio Society of CPAs, said the campaign would help highlight “the many ways” the “Jobs Budget” will help governments.

“Ohio’s taxpayers deserve state and local governments that employ innovative strategies to produce the best results at the lowest cost for their citizens,” she said.

Other members of the coalition are: ABC of Ohio; Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber; Columbus Partnership; Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce; Ohio Business Roundtable; Ohio Council of Retail Merchants; Ohio Grocers Association; and Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce.