Guiding Principles

The Advanced Energy component of the bipartisan Job Stimulus package (HB 554) authorizes the issue of Ohio coal research and development bonds in an amount up to $66 million. 

Although based on the programmatic success of the Ohio Coal Development Office (OCDO), the legislation modifies the goals of that program in important ways.  In addition, the timing of the Job Stimulus package coincided with the conclusion of an extensive OCDO strategic planning process undertaken at the direction of the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority (OAQDA).

Applicants must review this Guide carefully in order to understand this new approach.

The OCDO is issuing this Guide for Proposals to address both the core objectives and priorities for action of the OCDO 2008-2009 Strategic Plan and the clean coal portion of the Advanced Energy component of HB 554.  Interested and qualified parties are invited to submit project proposals focused on the clean use of Ohio coals.  Projects must be located in Ohio and use Ohio-mined coal.

Ohio Job Stimulus Guiding Principles

As part of HB 554, the focus of this OCDO funding shifts significantly toward the deployment end of the research and development continuum.  Accordingly, proposals will be judged based upon the following principles:

1. Workforce Impact: as part of the economic stimulus package, OAQDA will place high priority on new job creation and, to a lesser extent, on job retention. However, the OAQDA recognizes that there are various levels of jobs that can be created.

1. Full-time Permanent Jobs: certain projects will directly create new jobs, as well as indirectly creating the opportunity for additional permanent jobs through an expanding supply chain or the formation of the core of a potential industry cluster.
2. Construction Jobs: a valuable contribution to short term economic recovery with value added to the extent these jobs engender learning and applying new skills that will be applicable to future projects. While the OAQDA understands that it may be challenging for an applicant to commit to a certain number of construction jobs, we recognize their importance.
3. Economic Impact of Jobs: higher priority may be given to jobs providing compensation at or above sector or regional averages.
4. Advancement Opportunities: new job creation that leads to career paths of increasing skills and opportunity will be given consideration. The degree to which new jobs open the doors of opportunity to currently unemployed or underemployed Ohioans will also be factored into the award decisions.

2. Leverage: although the job stimulus package makes a significant amount of funds available for advanced energy projects, the OAQDA recognizes that the amount is relatively small within the context of the size and diversity of the advanced energy industry. Accordingly, it is essential that these funds significantly leverage the investment from other private and public sources.

1. Private Investment: when analyzing the total project, the amount of private investment (equity or debt) should at least match and really should exceed the state's involvement and preference will be given to applicants that demonstrate high leveraging of the state's investment.
2. Public Investment: in addition to private sector investment, support from other public (or nongovernmental organizational) sources further demonstrates the viability of the project. The public investment could include federal, other state and local commitments to the project.
3. Return on Public Investment: projects supported by public funds in earlier stages of development will be given added consideration. Job stimulus funds should clearly advance any earlier public investment to the commercialization stage, thereby improving the return on the total public investment package.
4. Coordination: projects that take advantage of other components of the job stimulus program or additional state incentives will be given added consideration. The advanced energy component of the job stimulus package is not an isolated, stand alone program; projects should demonstrate careful exploration of how other components can contribute, particularly the Choose Ohio First Co-op/Internship Program. Increasing the value of the project by active exploration of the more traditional economic development incentives offered by the state (including those at the Ohio Department of Development and the OAQDA) will also be evaluated.

3. Tipping Points: the OAQDA recognizes that many advanced energy projects carry significant price tags. It will be essential for applicants to demonstrate that the state investment makes a critical and substantial difference to the project and/or the industry.

1. Progress in Development: will the state investment make possible a technology advance from pilot to demonstration stage, or preferably from demonstration to the commercial stage?
2. Project Viability: will the state investment provide a necessary "bridge" for a project from one stage of private investment to the next (the effectiveness of the "bridge" must be clearly measurable with a significant degree of success certainty)?
3. Project Expansion and/or Location: will the state investment ensure that subsequent phases of job creating production occur in Ohio or that expansion opportunities are realized in Ohio?
4. Break-through Potential: will the state investment support a key activity of early stage commercialization that advances a potentially disruptive technology significantly? Such a role will be inherently higher risk for the state and would require clear documentation of the potential advance and its impact on Ohio's economic development goals.

4. Strategic Positioning: in addition to furthering investment in the advanced energy industry, the job stimulus program seeks to strengthen Ohio's manufacturing base and prepare for the industries and products of the future.

1. Attracting New Investment: projects capable of bringing new commercially viable energy companies and technologies to Ohio, perhaps original equipment manufacturers of those technologies.
2. Building upon Manufacturing Strength: projects that create new jobs and investments that can assist current Ohio manufacturers to retool, retrain and/or expand to become more competitive members of the local, regional and global supply chain for advanced energy technologies.
3. Reclaiming Ohio's Heritage of Innovation: projects that can help Ohio innovators and entrepreneurs advance technology development toward commercialization and provide the necessary incentive for that commercialization to occur in Ohio.
4. Preparing Ohio's Workforce for the Future: projects with the potential to provide good paying jobs to both Ohio's current and future workforce provide the greatest return on state investment; projects should advance our ability to retain and retrain Ohio workers.
5. Expand Opportunities to New Groups/Areas:  projects that include groups or regions not traditionally seen as part of advanced energy technology development and production; for example, projects that include minority or women owned businesses, small businesses, or are located in economically distressed regions of Ohio. Participation of Ohio EDGE certified businesses is highly valued.