By James M. Anderson
Guest columnist

Anderson

Since 1996, I have had the privilege of leading Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and have found that while most people in Cincinnati recognize that we are a world leader in pediatric health care, few know that we are one of the region's premier innovation, research and job-creation engines. Cincinnati Children's is just the kind of institution that will be among the leaders into Ohio's Third Frontier - the $1.6 billion initiative to inject new resources and urgency into our state's "knowledge economy" transition.

Recent history at Cincinnati Children's includes:

• Employment growth from 3,542 in 1996 to 7,419 today, with 600 open positions.

• Tenfold increase in research support from the National Institutes of Health since 1993 - from $10 million to over $100 million today.

• Annual regional economic impact of more than $1.3 billion in 2002.

Cincinnati Children's goal is to increase and accelerate our capacity to develop new knowledge that will positively affect the delivery of world-class pediatric health care services to children in our region and around the globe. State Issue 1, on the Nov. 4 ballot, will help us achieve this goal.

Issue 1 authorizes the state to issue $500 million in bonds and invest the proceeds in projects that will stimulate research and spur the creation of good-paying jobs. Issue 1 is not a tax increase, nor does it require one in the future. As the final part of the historic Third Frontier Project, Issue 1 will be a catalyst for Ohio's much-needed economic transformation.

While Cincinnati Children's has experienced strong positive trends, the same is not true for our state. In 1960 Ohio workers enjoyed one the nation's best standards of living, chiefly enabled by the sixth highest per capita income in America. However, by 2001, as Ohio experienced a massive exodus of traditional manufacturing jobs, our national ranking had plunged to number 22.

An assessment by the Ohio Office of Budget and Management indicates that in 1999, the average Ohioan earned $1,390 less than the average American and in 2003 the average Ohioan is expected to earn $2,720 less. That means that four years ago, Ohioans earned $15.7 billion dollars below the national average and in 2003 the gap will be almost $31 billion. We must stem this negative tide.

As evidenced by Cincinnati Children's experience, tomorrow's good jobs are less commodity production-based, and more innovative research and commercialization-based. Issue 1 resources will help institutions like Cincinnati Children's to attract and leverage more research dollars and recruit and cultivate world-class entrepreneurial researchers, helping to move health care innovations from the laboratory to the market.

To help ensure that our region achieves success in the Third Frontier, I have agreed to serve on the 16-member, statewide Third Frontier Advisory Board of business, government, education and non-profit leaders who will guide development and implementation of strategic programs, as well as to chair CincyTechUSA, the regional technology initiative of the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce.

Issue 1 and the Third Frontier Project are Ohio's best chance to become a place where unbridled innovation leads to new growth and good-paying jobs in our state. Vote yes on Issue 1.

James M. Anderson is President and CEO of Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.