(I) Trade and investment

Akron’s Austen BioInnovation Institute announce deal with Cleveland’s Orthopaedic Research Laboratories
January 29, 2010

Akron's Austen BioInnovation Institute is getting help to promote its medical research and development from a Cleveland based company called Orthopaedic Research Laboratories that specializes in testing orthopedic devices.

As per the agreement, Orthopaedic Research Labs will co-brand its educational programs with the BioInnovation Institute and assist Akron-area researchers with developing and evaluating potential new products.

The company will also be able to use its industry connections to help the BioInnovation Institute develop and market potential new products to major medical device companies.

The initiative has received US$ 20 million in financial support and the new partnership will boost the region's economy in the future by promoting research that ultimately will lead to medical-related start-up companies.

DuPont to expand production site in Ohio
January 19, 2010

Ohio State government officials have announced that Wilmington, Delaware based DuPont Co. is planning to expand its plant in Ohio. The expansion is expected to create over 70 manufacturing jobs and 230 temporary construction jobs in the solar panel industry.

Officials say that the US$ 175 million expansion at the site in Circleville in central Ohio will also help retain 444 jobs in the state.

The Tedlar PV2001 series film that the company produces is used in the manufacturing of solar panels. The company said that its newly expanded product will produce green energy.

Ohio governor Mr. Ted Strickland says, "This is more than just a business decision. It is an investment in the people here and alternative energy. This investment makes Circleville and DuPont the home of new, green energy and green jobs."

JumpStart and Portal Capital to invest in TheraVasc
January 05, 2010

JumpStart Inc., the Northeast Ohio venture development organization that accelerates the progress of high growth early-stage businesses, and Portal Capital, a Cleveland-based private equity firm investing in life science companies, announce an investment commitment of US$ 250,000 each in TheraVasc Inc., for a total commitment of US$ 500,000.

TheraVasc has patented the use of sodium nitrate, an FDA-approved drug, in an oral formulation to treat vascular diseases, including peripheral artery disease (PAD).

With the investment, TheraVasc plans to complete a phase I clinical study in humans. JumpStart Venture Partner, Kevin Mendelsohn, of the JumpStart Ventures team, will be working with the company to meet its milestones.

(II) Achievements

Dublin named one of the World's Smartest Cities
January 21, 2010

Dublin, Ohio is named as one of only two U.S. cities among the world's top seven smartest communities by New York-based think-tank Intelligent Community Forum.

The Forum recognized Dublin for its underground fiber optic network, DubLink, to establish the Central Ohio Research Network, which links government, businesses and schools to the Ohio Supercomputer Center.

Dublin was also recognized for establishing the Dublin Entrepreneurial Center, and partnering with the education and business communities to ensure a highly skilled workforce now and into the future.

Ohio's public-school system climbs to 5th best in nation
January 14, 2010

Ohio's public-school system is ranked fifth best in the nation and the credit goes to the efforts of students and educators across the state and an intense focus on improving academic performance.

Ohio, which received a grade of B-minus, continued its climb from sixth place last year and seventh the year before. The analysis is conducted by the nonprofit Editorial Projects in Education Research Center of Bethesda, Md., which publishes Education Week.

The 2010 rankings are based on six broad categories -- including student achievement, school funding and curriculum standards -- and more than 150 indicators such as graduation rates, teacher licensure requirements and family income.

Survey says Ohio tops in Midwest for small businesses
January 07, 2010

Ohio moved up several slots to rank 11th in an annual Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council survey for ‘Small Business Survival Index 2009’. The ratings were done by Oakton, Virginia based council. Last year Ohio was ranked at 18th position in the survey.

The index grades states based on their public policy climates for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Measures include personal and corporate income tax rates, capital gains tax rates, property taxes and health insurance mandates.

South Dakota got the first position in the ranking on the list.

 

(III) Energy

a) Solar

First Solar is on the rise with large-scale projects
January 20, 2010

First Solar plans to complete an expansion of its Perrysburg, Ohio, facility in the first half of this year. The Perrysburg expansion adds a fourth production line and boosts manufacturing capacity to more than 200 megawatts per year. The expansion creates 200 jobs at the plant.

The company achieved a significant milestone in 2009, becoming the first company to manufacture and ship more than 1 GW of photovoltaic solar modules in 2009. First Solar manufactures solar modules using a thin film of cadmium telluride (CdTe) as a semiconductor material, which converts sunlight to electricity more efficiently than traditional crystalline silicon semiconductor material.

b) Wind energy

i) Turbine manufacturer ‘Green Energy Technologies LLC’ is ready to take off
January 11, 2010

Green Energy Technologies LLC, Ohio's wind turbine manufacturer is ready to generate electricity. The firm is not producing utility-size wind turbines but smaller units aimed at commercial and industrial customers.

Green Energy Technologies LLC, a privately held firm based in Bath Township, is selling what it calls the WindCube, a wind turbine that will produce power on site, not just electricity to be added to a grid like the large twirling turbines. The WindCube generates electricity at low wind speeds like those found in much of Ohio and is designed for urban settings. WindCube is designed to produce 60 kilowatts of power.

WindCubes, costing US$ 250,000 to US$ 300,000 plus installation, are designed to be attached to buildings or towers. The system is tied into a building's electrical meter and reduces the power needed from the electric grid.

ii) Wind - the new source of energy in Ohio
January 10, 2010

Ohio is pursuing to make wind a new source of energy, jobs and economic development in the state. Wind developers, including some from Europe, have big plans for Ohio.

Six sprawling, large-scale wind farms with up to 436 towering turbines are proposed across western Ohio. The heaviest concentrations are atop a glacial ridge west of Columbus in Champaign County; in northwest Ohio in Hardin County; and on the flat farmlands near the Indiana line in Paulding and Van Wert counties.

Four of the projects are pending before the Ohio Power Siting Board, whereas two others are expected to be filed soon. The six wind projects together are expected to produce 1,100 megawatts electricity.

Ohio expects to attract even more wind farms mostly because of Ohio's high-altitude winds that exceed the 15-mph threshold needed to make utility-scale projects viable.

Wind has become the potential ''next big thing'' as a clean energy source for Ohio and for Ohio jobs.

c) Clean energy

i) Ohio Governor announced to invest US$40 million for alternative energy
January 26, 2010

Ohio Governor, Mr. Ted Strickland has announced a US$ 40 million investment in alternative energy programs to further the state's green technology development.

The Governor said that the money would go to fuel cell, wind power, solar energy, and energy storage initiatives and the new Energy Gateway Fund will help Ohio make the transition from its image as a Rust Belt state.

ii) Green energy tax credits to bring hundreds of jobs in Ohio
January 19, 2010

As part of the campaign to make “Ohio the Silicon Valley of Clean Energy Manufacturing”, Ohio companies are receiving tax credits. With the recent announcement of US$ 125 million in federal tax credits, Ohio is expecting hundreds of new manufacturing jobs in the field of renewable energy.

Clean energy represents the future of manufacturing, which is regarded as an important sector for the growth of the state of Ohio. It is expected that clean energy will bring in many new jobs in the coming years.

iii) Dayton based Acutemp receives US$ 900K in clean energy tax credits
January 08, 2010

Acutemp, a Dayton based company receives US$900,000 tax credits as part of a slew of clean energy manufacturing assistance. The company plans to use the amount for purchasing equipment for a six-fold increase in manufacturing of panels used in high-efficiency Energy Star appliances.

Ohio ranks fourth in the nation for clean energy jobs. Within the last three years, Ohio has attracted more than US$ 74 million in clean energy venture capital. These funds are expected to help create new jobs in clean energy manufacturing and help make Ohio the Silicon Valley of clean energy manufacturing.

iv) NW Ohio to receive US$ 9.8 million for green jobs training
January 06, 2010

Ohio is expected to benefit from five federal grants totaling nearly US$ 24 million that were part of US$ 28 million worth of grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor and earmarked for retraining of workers for jobs in the growing green energy sector.

Northwest Ohio workers are included under two grants totaling US$ 9.8 million that were awarded to sheet metal and electrical worker union applicants.

All of the grants are part of US$ 100 million nationwide designated for green job retraining of minorities, veterans, and dislocated workers affected by auto industry restructuring. All training and placement activities are expected to be conducted at local levels through community colleges or certified apprenticeship programs.

d) Biofuel

Algaeventure Systems Inc. receive aid to create biofuels out of algae
January 17, 2010

Algaeventure Systems Inc., the green energy subsidiary of Marysville, Ohio based Univenture Systems Inc., has received nearly US$ 6 million in stimulus aid for its efforts to create biofuels out of algae.

Algaeventure’s goal is to develop algae farming and harvesting technology that could be placed nearly anywhere for farmers or investors. The company reached a milestone in March, when it solved the problem of removing algae from water.

According to Mr. Steve Schoeny, director of the Ohio Department of Development’s strategic business and investment division, “Ohio is well-positioned for growth in the biofuels and bioproducts and we are working hard to make sure Ohio continues to stay positioned in this growing industry.”

 

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