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Elected officials joined business leaders and representatives from the Ohio Department of Development for an economic summit at the Bryn Du Mansion, hosted by State Senator Tim Schaffer.

“When you look at the resources we have at the state and federal government levels, and then the outstanding economic development experts we have at the local levels, like here in Licking County, we want to make sure we can bring it all together in one sitting, one morning if you will," Schaffer said.

Schaffer says he’ll be touring the 31st Senate District with these programs

“We piloted it in Pickerington in May, and this is the second one here in Granville," Schaffer said. "And we’ll be in Perry County, another one in Lancaster and Fairfield County, Hocking County, Pickaway County, in the coming several months.”

Schaffer says the economy is starting to recover, and there’s good news for Ohio.

“We talked about Ohio winning the Governor’s Cup three years in a row now, which measures business expansion," Schaffer said. "Ohio is, believe it or not, leading the country in business expansion in a number of categories.”

Schaffer says Governor Strickland’s plan to delay a scheduled tax cut will hurt business.

“A lot of small businesses pay their taxes at the individual income tax level," Schaffer said. "So, when we raise that tax, we’re taking money out of entrepreneurs hands.”