MR. EDITOR:

Former Gov. John Kasich pushed the Republican-led Legislature in 2011 to create JobsOhio, which created a nonprofit corporation that takes liquor tax revenue before it goes to the state treasury. for “enable world-class businesses, entrepreneurs, and talented individuals to grow their businesses and careers in Ohio.”

The economic development agency has spent more than $1 billion since 2015 and is now working to spin its results to look like it’s actually made progress on Ohio’s economy.

JobsOhio insists on ranking by its chosen criteria. They say their assessment should only be limited to the 10 sectors they choose to focus on.

However, even the partial analysis the agency shared last week shows that Ohio lost or did not gain market share in four of the 10 sectors between 2010 and 2020 compared to West Virginia. Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois and Pennsylvania. Between 2010 and 2019, Ohio lost market share in half of the industries, according to a chart shared by JobsOhio.

Maybe instead of producing jobs, they produce paychecks for themselves. Last year, the agency employed 106 people with an average salary and benefits of $180,000 a year.

Or maybe they were all working on the massive Intel chip factory to boost Governor Mike DeWine’s stock holdings in the company.

Nonetheless, JobsOhio has clearly failed to deliver on the economic development promises made more than a decade ago.

TOM SHAY

Leavittsburg