Department of Commerce Unveils New Internet Portal

Director of Commerce Gary Suhadolnik today unveiled the new Internet website of the Ohio Department of Commerce at www.com.state.oh.us.  The site, based on the state's new main portal, provides numerous services to industries and consumers.

“The new Commerce portal takes customers out of line and puts them on-line,” said Suhadolnik.  "Our ultimate goal is to utilize the Internet to make the regulatory processes easier for industry and more open for consumers."

Commerce is one of the State’s chief licensing and regulatory departments and consists of eight operating divisions: financial institutions, industrial compliance, labor and worker safety, liquor control, real estate and professional licensing, securities, state fire marshal and unclaimed funds.

The new Commerce portal has a common look and feel with the new State of Ohio portal at www.state.oh.us.  “Our design goal was to build upon the main state portal to help the user readily navigate state government services and easily see where Commerce fits into the state government picture."

Suhadolnik noted that the Commerce portal incorporates a “virtual agency” concept that organizes Commerce services around the intention of users.  Users can identify themselves as “consumers,” “businesses,” “license/permit holders and applicants” or “other government agencies,” and be presented with a menu of information and services available from the Department. 

"The advantage of the virtual agency concept is that users can access our services and information without needing to know how we are organized,” said Suhadolnik.  Some of the portal features include:

·        one click access to divisions for seasoned users;

·        a "quick links" feature to locate specific areas of interest;

·        "hot buttons" to the most popular features;

·        a link to all of the department’s frequently used forms;

·        a press room listing all news releases;

·        a link to the Commerce Intranet, giving field staff and other employees easy access work related information and e-mail from anywhere; and

·        a calendar of events related to Commerce.

Current popular features of the Commerce "virtual agency" include:

• the “On Line Treasure Hunt,” to look for and claim unclaimed funds;
• the “ERNIE” system, which allows for a search of securities filings made with the department’s division of securities;
• "OASIS" for on-line submission of certain securities filings;
• "OTTER," which offers a wealth of information, including a searchable database, about underground storage tanks and tank sites;
• searchable databases for certain licensees, including stock brokers, mortgage brokers and Construction Industry Examining Board licensees;
• numerous lists regarding liquor permits;
• information on filing complaints against licensees, including an on-line complaint form for securities dealers; and
• information on prevailing wage law and rates.

“The launch of our new portal is an exciting step, and we will continue to move forward with other e-commerce initiatives,” Suhadolnik said.  He indicated that initiatives currently in development include providing for the on-line filing of minor work permits with the Division of Labor and Worker Safety, and the on-line renewal of real estate licenses. 

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