On Monday, Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted announced the approval of assistance for seven projects set to create 660 new jobs and retain 3,333 jobs statewide. During its monthly meeting, the Ohio Tax Credit Authority (TCA) reviewed economic development proposals brought to the board by JobsOhio and its regional partners. Collectively, the projects are expected to result in more than $39 million in new payroll and spur more than $51.8 million in investments across Ohio. 

Lt. Governor Husted stopped by the Ohio Association for Career, Technical, and Adult Educators' Innovation and Impact Conference in Columbus on Monday. The Lt. Governor spoke with hundreds of career-tech educators about the importance of building Ohio's workforce and providing in-demand career tech skills to students that will lead to more high paying jobs with college debt.

On Tuesday, Governor DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine celebrated the success of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Ohio program in Belmont County, where First Lady DeWine held a press conference and read an Imagination Library book to children.   

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Ohio mails one age-appropriate book to enrolled Ohio children each month until their fifth birthday.  The program is free to Ohio families. In August, 327,743 children will receive their free monthly book, which means 45% of eligible children are enrolled in the program.  

Enrollment is free to families with children under the age of five at OhioImaginationLibrary.org. Each month, children receive a different age-appropriate Imagination Library book. If families sign up their newborns, they could receive all 60 books in the program. 

Belmont County's Imagination Library has 47% of the county’s eligible children enrolled in the program.  

Also on Tuesday, Governor DeWine and the Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO) released a new educational video for use by parents, teachers, and driver education instructors to help them explain the dangers of distracted driving to teens.

The light-hearted video is targeted toward youthful drivers and features a pair of young hosts answering the distracted driving questions that instructors get the most.

"This new educational video uses a light touch to engage young drivers on this incredibly serious topic," said Governor DeWine. "By using young drivers to deliver this message, we hope the important safety lessons stay with Ohio's teenagers every time they get behind the wheel."

View the Ohio Department of Public Safety's video here

Ohio State Fair

Opening Day Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Governor DeWine, First Lady DeWine, Lt. Governor Husted, and Second Lady Tina Husted celebrated the grand opening of this year's Ohio State Fair on Wednesday.

"It is so good to be back at the Ohio State Fair, it's very, very exciting," said Governor DeWine. "The fair offers us 12 days to come together and celebrate the great state of Ohio  and everything we have in common." 

Following a cabinet meeting at the fairgrounds and the celebratory ribbon cutting ceremony,  Governor and First Lady DeWine joined members of their family to enjoy the sights and sounds of the fair and to sample the fair's signature food selection.

Official Opening of the Exploring Oil and Gas in Ohio Accessible Play Area

Governor DeWine and his family also joined Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Director Mary Mertz to celebrate the official opening of the new Exploring Oil and Gas in Ohio accessible play area at the fair's Natural Resources Park.

“The Natural Resources Park offers a slower pace for families to learn about our state’s resources,” said Governor DeWine. “This new play area not only teaches children about the oil and gas industry, but it gives them a fun way to stretch their minds and work out their energy while enjoying the state fair.”

“The Natural Resources Park offers a slower pace for families to learn about our state’s resources,” said Governor DeWine. “This new play area not only teaches children about the oil and gas industry, but it gives them a fun way to stretch their minds and work out their energy while enjoying the state fair.”

Governor DeWine and Family Tree Planting and Overnight at the Fairgrounds

In keeping with tradition, the Governor also planted a bur oak tree in the Amphitheater at the Natural Resources Park at the Ohio State Fair on Wednesday evening. Governor DeWine has planted a tree at the Natural Resources Park each year that he’s been Governor.

“I am honored and excited to continue the tradition of planting trees at the Ohio State fairgrounds,” said Governor DeWine. “All the trees planted by governors in the past contribute to the health and well-being of all Ohioans by providing shade, improving air quality, and creating wildlife habitat.”

To conclude the day, the DeWines and several of their grandchildren stayed at the fairgrounds to spend the night in a yurt at the Natural Resources Park.

For decades in Ohio, many Governors have chosen to follow the tradition of spending the night at the Ohio State Fair.

Also on Wednesday, Governor DeWine announced that more Ohioans are now eligible for electric and natural gas assistance from the Ohio Department of Development and Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO).

Governor DeWine signed Executive Order 2022-12D, which authorizes the Ohio Department of Development to work in partnership with PUCO to implement emergency rules that increase the income threshold for Ohio's Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP). The threshold will change from the current 150 percent of the federal poverty level to 175 percent. The Ohio Department of Development has jurisdiction over PIPP for electric service, and PUCO has jurisdiction over PIPP rules for natural gas service.

“With the rising costs of commodities, Ohioans are finding it harder to pay their utility bills,” said Governor DeWine. “By expanding eligibility for utility assistance programs, more Ohioans will get the help they need to pay their bills and keep their homes cool in the summer and warm in the winter.”

On Thursday, the Lt. Governor spent time at the Ohio State Fair, where he stopped by the Ohio Department of Development’s booth to see their display on how Ohioans can Live, Work, and Play.

He also met with an Ohioan who is blind and had the chance to participate in an Aira demonstration. The visual interpretation service helps people navigate the Ohio State Fairgrounds at no cost.

Then, Lt. Governor Husted visited Ohio BMV's Self-Service Kiosk at the Fair. The kiosk allows people to renew and print an existing vehicle registration and sticker or print a duplicate registration and sticker.

Lastly, the Ohio Farm Bureau led the Lt. Governor on an agriculture-focused tour of the Ohio State Fair where he met with Ohio farmers, livestock producers, and junior fair exhibitors who represent Ohio’s world class youth development programs through FFA and 4-H.

Governor DeWine and Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Director Mertz announced plans on Thursday for more than two dozen new H2Ohio wetland projects to naturally improve water quality across Ohio. 

“Our water is such an incredibly valuable resource, and building and restoring wetlands brings us closer to having cleaner water throughout the state,” said Governor DeWine. “We are making great strides through the work of H2Ohio, and I look forward to seeing even more progress in the years to come.”

Twenty-five new wetland projects will soon launch in 22 counties including Allen, Athens, Butler, Clark, Clermont, Cuyahoga, Delaware, Franklin, Henry (2), Madison, Mahoning, Medina, Mercer, Montgomery, Ottawa, Pickaway, Putnam, Richland, Sandusky, Summit (3), Wayne, and Wyandot. The projects will be funded through ODNR's $25 million H2Ohio allocation in the current state operating budget. 

Additionally on Thursday, The Governor and Lt. Governor both released statements in response to the passage of the CHIPS for America Act in Congress.

Statement from Governor DeWine:

“Today’s action by Congress to officially pass the CHIPS for America Act is the right move for our nation, and it will be transformative for Ohio.

“This $52 billion investment to domestically produce semiconductor chips on American soil will strengthen our national security, help fuel economic growth, and turn Ohio into a nationwide semiconductor powerhouse. As Intel begins construction in Licking County to bring its most advanced semiconductor manufacturing facilities to our state, Ohio is on its way to becoming an indispensable player in the semiconductor industry.

“The current supply-chain shortages have taught us that the United States must end its reliance on foreign-made necessities, including the semiconductor chips that power today’s electronic world. With semiconductor chips made in Ohio by Ohioans, we’ll add tens of thousands of new direct and indirect jobs, and when other companies are looking to grow, they’ll look to Ohio because there is no better place to live, work, and raise a family.

“I applaud members of Congress, particularly all the members of the Ohio delegation, for their bipartisan support of the CHIPS for America Act and for their dedication to positioning Ohio to become our nation’s leader in semiconductor production.”

Statement from Lt. Governor Husted:

"The passage of the CHIPS Act is important to our national and economic security. Computer chips are the most important manufactured product in the world because almost everything depends on chips to process or store information. For Ohio, this puts us one step closer to achieving the aspiration of becoming the ‘Silicon Heartland’ resulting in a brand-new industry and supply chain in our state, creating tens of thousands of high-paying careers.

I want to thank the congressional delegation for their support. Now that CHIPS is done, it’s time for all of us in Ohio to get to work delivering for America.”

On Friday, Governor DeWine signed Executive Order 2022-13D, a measure to amend the regulatory rules to streamline and remove barriers to training for nurse aides.

Governor DeWine announced on Friday that he has directed the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) to implement new recommendations to improve the post-release control supervision of former prison inmates in halfway houses and other community corrections programs.

The recommendations, which are part of a new report issued today by the Governor’s Working Group on Post-Release Control, include suggested improvements to the role and use of halfway houses for those on post-release control and address the impact of Ohio’s Truth in Sentencing Law on the state prison system and community supervision.

“These additional recommendations will carry us forward as we continue to refine and improve the framework for post-release control,” said Governor DeWine. “Implementing these recommendations is another solid step in the right direction to ensure that former inmates have the appropriate level of supervision to help them get back on their feet while also reducing the likelihood of recidivism and protecting the community."

Also on Friday, First Lady DeWine cooked pizza with kids and read an Imagination Library book at the Ohio State Fair to promote Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio.

First Lady DeWine hosted two hands-on cooking demonstrations. Children took turns grinding wheat, while she talked about how wheat can be used in making pizza dough and other food. Kids then rolled out their own pizza dough and added toppings, including some vegetables from the garden at the Ohio Governor’s Residence. While the pizzas cooked, the First Lady read "The Little Red Hen" to all of the kids, and afterward the kids ate their pizza with the First Lady.

"I love cooking with kids at the Ohio State Fair, just like I do with my grandchildren often. It’s fun to watch them make their own creations, as we talk about where their food comes from," said First Lady DeWine. "I also really enjoy reading to young kids.  The more we all read with children, and help them discover a love for reading, the more they benefit as they get ready for kindergarten.”

To promote Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio, First Lady DeWine hosted a book reading for kids at the Ohio Department of Commerce's fair booth, "The Commerce House."

First Lady DeWine read "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and "Shh! Bears Sleeping" alongside Ohio Department of Commerce Director Sherry Maxfield.  And she encouraged all little ones to sign up for the Imagination Library if they aren’t already enrolled.

Additionally, on Friday, Lt. Governor Husted stopped by the Regional Manufacturing Coalition meeting at Gorman-Rupp Pumps in Mansfield.