The Military
Ohio defense commission would steer new industry grants
The proposal puts the Department of Development in charge of funding decisions for defense and aerospace projects. It also creates a standing panel to link businesses, the military and universities.
Ohio lawmakers have proposed a new commission to guide defense and aerospace growth. The bill would also let the state make grants for qualifying projects in those industries.
- A new commission would be created inside the Department of Development.
- The department could award grants for defense and aerospace projects.
- The panel would connect businesses, the military and universities.
- It would also study base realignment risks, drone countermeasures and support for service members and veterans.
Ohio lawmakers would create a new advisory commission inside the Department of Development to help steer the state’s defense and aerospace work. The proposal would also set up a grant program the department could use to support qualifying projects in those industries.
What the commission would do
The Ohio Defense and Space Advisory Commission would advise the Department of Development on how to run the grant program and could recommend specific projects for funding. It would also study broader ways to strengthen defense and aerospace activity across the state.
The panel would be asked to encourage communication and resource-sharing among businesses, the military and academia. In plain terms, the idea is to get the groups that already work around these industries talking to one another more often and more directly.
A wider state role
The proposal goes beyond business recruiting. It would also ask the commission to weigh how Ohio should prepare for federal military base realignment and closure processes, and how to attract international businesses tied to defense and aerospace work.
The commission would also look at research, development and manufacturing tied to technology that can counter unmanned aerial vehicle systems. It would consider policies meant to improve quality of life for service members and veterans, which could affect communities near bases and defense employers.
The commission would be housed within the Department of Development, and the department would be responsible for adopting rules to run the grant program. Those rules would cover how companies apply, what the grant agreements must include and how the state sets funding limits.
Who would sit on it
The commission would include the director of development, the adjutant general, lawmakers from both chambers and people with defense or aerospace experience. Members would not be paid, though they could receive reimbursement for necessary expenses.
It would also be expected to issue an annual report with its findings and recommendations. That keeps the proposal from being just a one-time announcement and gives the state a standing group to track this sector over time.