Top Elected Officials Kick-Off Clean Ohio Renewal Campaign

Governor, Speaker & Senate President Co-Chair Campaign

COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, on the Ohio Statehouse
lawn, Governor Ted Strickland, Lt. Governor Lee Fisher, House Speaker Jon
Husted and Senate President Bill Harris announced their support for the
renewal of the Clean Ohio Fund and encouraged Ohio residents to vote "YES" on
this issue in November.
"The Clean Ohio program is the final, critical piece of the $1.57 billion
bipartisan economic stimulus package," said Governor Strickland. "We know
Clean Ohio will be successful because the program has produced such great
results for Ohioans. The Clean Ohio program has led to the redevelopment of
abandoned and polluted sites, spurred significant private sector investment in
our communities and created jobs throughout the state."
The Citizens for a Clean Ohio Campaign is a renewal of a $400 million bond
program that improves the quality of life for all Ohioans through
community-directed investments in initiatives such as preserving natural areas
and farmland, protecting waterways and redeveloping urban areas to foster
economic growth. Clean Ohio is not a tax increase.
Public officials and local leaders from across Ohio have joined the
Governor, Speaker and Senate President in supporting Clean Ohio. The campaign
has already received more than 60 endorsements from organizations throughout
Ohio, including The Nature Conservancy in Ohio, Farm Bureau Federation,
National Brownfield Association (Ohio Chapter), Ohio League of Conservation
Voters, County Commissioners Association, the Ohio Municipal League and
Audubon Ohio.
"The Clean Ohio fund is not only important to the environment, but it also
will help the Ohio economy by restoring land for industrial and business use
and job creation without raising taxes," said Speaker of the Ohio House of
Representatives, John Husted.
Since the program began in 2000, it has enabled the clean up of 173
abandoned and polluted sites and will leverage investments to redevelop sites
across the state. It will result in nearly 15,000 new jobs and $2.6 billion
in public and private investment.
The Clean Ohio Fund has also conserved 26,000 acres of natural and
wildlife habitat, preserved 20,000 acres of prime farmland and created 216
miles of additional recreational trails.
"It's been exciting to see the positive impact of Clean Ohio on our state
over the last 8 years," said Senate President Harris. "Clean Ohio has proven
what we can accomplish when we work together ... but in order to keep this
critical program, all Ohioans must vote for Clean Ohio this November."
The Clean Ohio Fund will direct $200 million in funding for revitalization
and clean up of abandoned polluted industrial sites and an additional $200
million for conservation and preservation initiatives.
"We are delighted that this important issue has received such broad
bipartisan support from Ohio's top political leaders, business groups,
farmland preservation organizations and conservationists," said Steve
Caminati, chairman of the Citizens for a Clean Ohio Campaign. "Clean Ohio is
something we can all support - it creates jobs while preserving our quality of
life for generations to come - and requires no new taxes."
Voting "YES" on November 4 renews the Clean Ohio Fund - helping to keep
our drinking water clean, protect our lakes and rivers, clean up contaminated
land, preserve working farms, protect wildlife habitat and expand outdoor
recreational opportunities for all Ohioans.
For more information on the Citizens for a Clean Ohio Campaign visit
www.cleanohio.org.
SOURCE Citizens for a Clean Ohio Campaign

Kristin Mack, +1-614-224-8114 x230, +1-614-975-4186 (mobile),
kmack@paulwerth.com; or Brian Wright, +1-216-752-4900 x21, +1-216-262-1604
(mobile), brian@melamedcommunications.com, both for Citizens for a Clean Ohio