Columbus Dispatch: ...Losing Honda’s assembly plant last year likely also will affect the economic-development strategy of Gov. Ted Strickland. The Strickland administration has pledged to be more aggressive. A month before taking office, the governor traveled to Rolls-Royce’s headquarters in Virginia in hopes the company will choose Ohio for an expansion.
In the coming weeks, Strickland and Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, the new chief of the Department of Development, plan to meet with individuals involved with the Honda project last year, from inside and outside state government, to find out what went wrong.
"There will be many other future opportunities where the lessons learned can help," Fisher said.
Fisher said his office is monitoring the speculation about expansion by Toyota and other companies "24-7." But Strickland and Fisher will contact automakers already in Ohio before branching out, Fisher said....
The Star Beacon: ....On Thursday, Gov. Ted Strickland announced $5 million in grants will be available to communities and others who develop wind-based energy programs. The news gives a boost to a plan John Casalina, Rock Creek administrator, broached many months ago. Casalina sees real merit in erecting a wind turbine on a certain wind-swept property in Conneaut a short distance from Interstate 90. Electricity created by the turbine could be used to trim utility bills for Rock Creek residents, the plan's proponents have said. During a presentation many months ago, Conneaut was invited to help finance the project so city residents could reap some of the energy benefits..... It is amazing that Strickland and his staff have been able to come up with new, fresh ideas to get things moving in Ohio. With a new perspective on solving problems, research, and enthusiasm, it appears that the Strickland administration is off to a great start.