House Ways and Means Committee

Proponent Testimony

House Bill 269

House Ways and Means Committee

February 15, 2016

" Chairman McClain, Vice Chairman Scherer, Ranking Member Cera and members of the Ways and Means Committee. I am Dennis Althar from Althar Audio a division of All-Tronics Medical Systems which is a sound equipment manufacturer from Cleveland that has been in operations for over 41 years.

I greatly appreciate the opportunity to provide testimony in support of HB 269 which would create the Ohio Sound Recording Investor Tax Credit. "

Help make Ohio a "Sound" State!

For a stronger Cleveland and the greater Ohio area.

Already known for leadership in the music industry with the legacy of literally hundreds of musicians from classical to bleeding edge modern.

Alan Freed first created and then popularized "Rock and Roll" which helped unite diverse American cultures by showcasing the great, and diverse talent that in 1950 only a multi cultural America could produce.

Telarc

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

The Cleveland Orchestra

Cleveland Institute of Music

Oberlin Conservatory

Tri -C Recording Arts and Technology Center

The list goes on and on

In the Manufacturing area which creates JOBS,,, companies include Althar Audio, Dayton Audio, CAD, BIC, RTR, SVS

In the Touring industry companies like 8th Day Sound are equally recognized which helps place Ohio as one of the few states in the Union which could actually become both a destination and provider for everything music and industry related to meet producers and artists' needs in both the music and film industries.

Birth place of Belkin productions

Althar Audio is a slavic village, (a neighborhood considered ground zero in the nations foreclosure crisis ) based leading edge manufacturer in the commercial Audio Industry supporting artists, venues and theaters including

The Cleveland Museum of Art

EJ Thomas Hall

The Ohio Theatre in Loudonville

Boys and Girls Club

The velodrome

Alex Bevan

Dan Bode

We feel music brings people and communities together and helps to incorporate them into the world at large.

We support:

HB 269/ The Ohio Sound Recording Investor Tax Credit

Further, as proof of our dedication and support to this bill, we will provide a 12.5% rebate of any Althar Audio equipment purchased for a project which is approved and meets the guidelines of HB 269.

We believe the benefit which will be derived from the stimulus HB269 creates will far exceed even the boldest projections in both real dollars and jobs brought to the state as well as the intangibles of uniting a more well integrated state, with its diverse artists and performers brought together in front of their equally culturally diverse audience and patrons.

The Black Keys

BozScaggs

The Isley Brothers

The O’Jays

Tracy Chapman

Phil Keaggy

The Pretenders

... Robert Lockwood Jr....

In my opinion the way to determine if something is important is how long it's important- music crosses generations and centuries uniting people and ideas it's our music that stands the test of time.

In the world wide economy our music is one of our largest exports.

If anyone here can say that their lives were not positively affected by music... Let them be heard now or forever support HB 269!

Sincerely,

Dennis Althar

President

Althar Audio

Paul Podnar

Vice President

Althar Audio