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State Issue 1, renewal of the Ohio capital improvements program for 10 years, has received the endorsement of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors. A 10-year renewal of the program is on the May 6 ballot. The capital improvements program supports local road and bridge, water, sewer and solid waste projects. Since 1987, the inception of the program, Stark County projects have received $128.2 million in funding. “This state program benefits the community’s businesses and the people they employ,” said Dennis P. Saunier, president and CEO of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce. “Regular improvements in a community’s transportation and utility infrastructure are essential for maintaining a strong business environment.” The state sells bonds to raise money for the program and budgets money in the biennial state budget to service the debt, so the program does not add to Ohioans’ tax burden. If the program is reauthorized for another 10 years on May 6, Ohio will make $175 million per year available for local projects for the first five years and $200 million per year for the next five years. State Issue 1 has received broad support across the state from other big-city Chambers of Commerce, from the AFL-CIO and from the Ohio Manufacturers Association, to name a few.