Secretary Husted announces innovation as the January 2016 Ohio Business Profile theme

Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted has announced “Innovation” as the January 2016 theme in the Ohio Business Profile Program.

As a new year begins, the program looks to highlight businesses that embody Ohio’s roots of invention and innovation.
                        
“Innovators are the risk-takers, the dreamers, the people that believe that what isn’t—can be,” Secretary Husted said. “Ohio is a great place for innovators and entrepreneurs because they are problem-solvers by nature and can grow here with our business-friendly environment and through collaborative partnerships in our diverse economy.”
 
Companies profiled this month include:
 
· Battelle (Columbus) applies science and technology to solving national and global problems. Battelle conducts research, development, design and manufacturing at laboratories around the world and strives to make the world better by commercializing technology, giving back to the community and investing in and supporting STEM education.
 
· HTK Company, Inc (Upper Sandusky) was founded in 1897 by James R. Caldwell after the creation of the Handy Safety Knife, later known as the Handy Ring Knife. This knife takes the place of a pocket knife and seeks to reduce the risk of injury in the workplace.
 
· Assurex Health (Mason) chose to build their biohealth business in Ohio because of the state’s health research excellence, strong talent pool and available infrastructure. Assurex Health uses CPGx™, a proprietary combinatorial pharmacogenomics technology, which provides individualized treatment support to healthcare providers treating behavioral health and chronic pain conditions.
 
· rp+m (Avon Lake) specializes in advanced additive manufacturing technology and supports their customers from the inception of an idea to production. Through collaboration and strong partnerships in K-12 education, hospitals and universities, rp+m (rapid prototype + manufacturing) shares the world of additive manufacturing and its capabilities for growth and innovation across multiple industries.
 

Secretary Husted reduced the costs associated with registering a new business in Ohio and began a partnership with Google’s “Let’s Put Our Cities on the Map” program in 2015. Ohio businesses now have easy access to free tools through Google when they apply to start a business online with the Secretary of State’s office and Ohio is now the least costly state in the region to start and maintain a new business.

Launched in June 2011, Ohio Business Profile has helped raise awareness about companies registered and doing business in Ohio that are creating interesting products, offering outstanding service, contributing to their local communities and employing Ohioans in the process. Each month, a handful of diverse businesses linked together by a common theme are featured on the Secretary of State’s website, where Ohioans are encouraged to submit companies they feel are deserving of recognition in future months.
 
The Secretary of State’s office also releases a monthly report of new business filings in Ohio and recent data shows Ohio is on track for another record year for the number of newly-registered businesses. One reason for the growth has been the launch of online services. In October 2013, Secretary Husted launched Ohio Business Central allowing businesses to file some of the most commonly used forms online and services continue to be expanded. Since January 2011, more than 404,000 filings have been submitted and half of all new companies are now started online in Ohio.