Leadership

Biden Aims to Triple Tariff Rates on Chinese Steel, Aluminum

President Joe Biden this week signaled his desire to triple tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum to shield American manufacturing from unfair trade practices overseas.

Lael Brainard, the White House director of the National Economic Council, said China is making more steel than the world can absorb, “flooding global markets at artificially low prices” and “undercutting American steel that is clean.”

China currently produces more than half of the world’s steel and isn’t subject to the same level of environmental regulation as the U.S. requires domestically. 4/16/2024

Honda Expanding EV Production in Ohio

Honda announced this week plans to add 300 new jobs at what it is calling its ‘Ohio EV Hub’. In addition, 300 current employees at the automaker’s Marysville, Ohio plant are being trained for assembly of “Intelligent Power Units (IPU),” units that house EV batteries.

The plans, first announced in the fall of 2022, included a $700 million investment in retooling its Marysville and East Liberty assembly plants and its engine plant in Anna for EV production.

Honda’s EV Hub will also produce their recently announced Honda Saloon, the first of Honda’s Zero Series EVs. 4/14/2024

Ohio Recreational Marijuana Sales Could Happen This Summer

Ohio’s recreational marijuana could be available to consumers as soon as this summer, industry and state officials report.

Under a new rule proposed by The Division of Cannabis Control, Ohio’s 120 certified medical marijuana dispensaries will be able to apply for dual-use licenses that allow them to sell medical and adult-use products at their facilities. This proposal must still clear a legislative panel, however, which is expected to hear it in the coming weeks.

The division has until June 7 to make license applications available and must award those licenses by September. Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) signaled this week that he is “reasonably hopeful” that lawmakers could address the policy by June. 4/14/2024

How the Baltimore Bridge Collapse is Impacting the Supply Chain

It has been nearly one month since the collapse of the Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland. While the investigation is ongoing, the effects on the U.S. and global supply chain are already being felt.

The Port of Baltimore is a major thoroughfare for commodities, components, and finished products, including $8 billion of autos and parts exported overseas. OMA Connections Partner CliftonLarsonAllen has put together a video and article breaking down how the collapse has impacted the global supply chain and what measures are being taken to work around the closure. 4/16/2024

Governor DeWine Delivers 2024 ‘State of the State’ Address, Highlights Career Tech Program

This week, Governor Mike DeWine delivered his annual State of the State address, touching on advancements in children’s education, investments in Career Tech, and a renewed push against Delta 8.

The governor outlined plans to minimize smartphone use in schools, citing their distracting nature and concerns that the companies behind these platforms were “targeting our kids.”

DeWine also called for increased funding for Career Technical Education and helping students find a career pathway that they are passionate about. The OMA praised his recognition and support of career tech and supports continued funding into technical education.

DeWine reasserted his commitment to banning Delta 8, a hemp cannabinoid variant of marijuana. He also called for the legislature to restrict the purchase of marijuana, following the passage of Issue 2 by Ohioans. The governor also reinforced his position on banning flavored tobacco. 4/10/2024

Ohio House Holds First Hearing on Career Technical Education Bill

This week, The Ohio House of Representatives Primary and Secondary Education Committee held it’s first hearing on House Bill 432.

Sponsored by State Rep. Don Jones (R-Freeport) the bill would create alternative licensure pathways for career-technical education (CTE) instructors who are not currently employed by a career-technical planning district. 4/10/2024

First Look at Ohio’s Division of Cannabis Control’s Newly Proposed Rules

It has been five months since recreational marijuana became legal in Ohio, and, despite stalled negotiations in the Statehouse, the Division of Cannabis Control (DCC) has pressed forward with their roll out of rules.

The DCC announced the goal of issuing applications to current medical marijuana licensees by June 7 as required by the initiated statute approved by voters.

While the rules proposed by the DCC are primarily directed toward dispensaries and businesses that would eventually be able to sell adult-use marijuana, the growing, testing and processing facilities where cannabis products are created, are also preparing for a potential rise in product demand. 4/10/2024

Manufacturing Institute, Deloitte Publish Report Examining Workforce Challenges

The Manufacturing Institute along with Deloitte, has published a report examining the workforce challenges that manufacturers are facing. The report also details the investments the industry must make to meet workforce needs and continue the sector’s strong trajectory of growth.

The key points of the report are:

• The U.S. manufacturing industry could see a net need for as many as 3.8 million jobs between 2024 and 2033.
• Without significant changes, more than 5 in 10 or 1.9 million of these jobs could go unfilled in the next decade.
• Sixty-five percent of respondents said attracting and retaining talent is their primary business challenge.

Investments in skills and strategies that address the workforce’s evolving expectations, including flexibility and technology, could be pivotal to how manufacturers position themselves for success. 4/03/2024

Governor DeWine Announces New State Projects Expected to Create 1,025 Jobs

Earlier this week, Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted announced approval of 11 projects throughout the state that would create over 1,000 jobs.

OMA Member Norplas Industries is featured among the various other manufacturing projects. Norplas expects to create 140 full-time positions generating more than $6.3 million in new annual payroll at their new location in Rossford. 4/01/2024

How Gen Z is Becoming the Toolbelt Generation

A recent story in the Wall Street Journal detailed how Gen Z is abandoning the traditional college pathway for blue-collar jobs and trade schools.

The number of students enrolled in vocational-focused community colleges rose 16% last year to its highest level since the National Student Clearinghouse began tracking such data in 2018. The ranks of students studying construction trades also rose 23% during that time, while those in programs covering HVAC and vehicle maintenance and repair increased 7%.

The article cites higher-paying jobs, less debt, and greater financial freedom as the primary reasons for the Gen Z influx into trades. 4/02/2024