Brunner unveils blueprint for business in Ohio
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
MEDIA ADVISORY
BRUNNER UNVEILS BLUEPRINT FOR BUSINESS IN OHIO
For Immediate Release
Columbus, OH – July 25, 2006 - Ohio Secretary of State candidate Jennifer Brunner announced today a plan to make the Buckeye state a more desirable home for business operations. In the press conference, Brunner outlined a 5-step plan to enhance the business climate – making Ohio a more efficient, and welcoming place for businesses to locate and succeed.
“The Office of Secretary of State should be a catalyst for improving the ease for new start-up businesses and for companies to move to Ohio. As Secretary of State, I will work with our business communities to create a business climate that makes it easier to create more jobs for Ohioans,” said Brunner.
The Need for the Plan
Over the past eight years, filing and other document fees in the Ohio Secretary of State’s office have soared. Generally, when these fees are paid, they are captured into one or more Secretary of State special funds to pay contractors who now perform office responsibilities instead of Secretary of State employees.
“While the current Secretary of State touts level or decreased general revenue funding for the office in the past few years, the real story is told by looking at the increased spending by the office through these special funds,” said Brunner. “The funding for this increased spending is on the backs of business in Ohio, making it even more difficult to do business in this state and to compete against businesses from other states or nations who do not similarly share this burden,” added Brunner.
Jennifer Brunner has a blueprint to make Ohio better for business:
1. Eliminate the current “one size fits all approach”
- Revise forms for better legal compliance, restructure filing and document fees to better reflect a business’ ability to pay and the urgency of the need for documents
2. Support small business growth and development
- Provide specific, useful information in an easy-to-use format online and access to customer service technicians who can be reached by telephone, electronic mail and walk-in service
3. Create an International Business Relations Office
- Housed within the Secretary of State’s office, the International Business Relations Office will facilitate and encourage international investments in Ohio and by Ohio corporations
4. Electronic signature implementation
- Research and determine the value of a safe and reliable Electronic Authentication Program.
- The program would allow for the use of digital signatures in electronic commerce, using a system based on stringent certification and operating standards
5. Secretary of State’s website
- Create a site that is simple, secure and easy to use for citizens, business and any other party who would do business with the Secretary of State.
The Brunner Blueprint for Business plan is innovatively designed to make Ohio a more friendly business environment and will dedicate resources within the Secretary of State’s Office to accommodate business development in Ohio, not discourage it.
Additional information on Brunner’s Blueprint for Business in Ohio and a copy of the comprehensive report may be found at http://www.jenniferbrunner.com/
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Media contact: Patrick Gallaway, Director of Communications – Jennifer Brunner Committee, at (614) 246-1548, Patrick@jenniferbrunner.com