Leadership

OMA Staff Talks Trade With Canadian Official

This week, OMA staff met with Canada’s Consul General, Colin Bird in Columbus. Ohio is Canada’s top trade partner.

The OMA Government Affairs Committee will also co-host an event with the Embassy of Canada in Washington D.C. this coming May. Contact OMA staff to learn more. 4/23/2024

OMA President Opens Columbus Opportunity Summit on Manufacturing

This week, OMA President Ryan Augsburger opened the annual Columbus Opportunity Summit, presenting on the strength of Ohio’s manufacturing industry and future of the industry in the state.

A panel presentation included insights from representatives of OMA members Intel, Honda, American Nitrile, and Amgen participated in a panel discussing the growing regional investment in manufacturing, the resurgence of manufacturing in Ohio, and how Central Ohio is preparing for the next several decades of growth.

Learn more about the summit here. 4/23/2024

OMA Supports More Career Tech Instructors

This week, the OMA provided testimony in support of House Bill 432 which aims to address the shortage of career technical instructors in Ohio by creating alternative licensure pathways.

As employers continue to cite talent availability concerns, it is essential that Ohio’s students have access to education programs to assist them as they evaluate in-demand career pathways, including manufacturing.

HB 432 is currently pending in House Primary and Secondary Education Committee. 4/23/2024

Ohio Truckers Can Now Renew CDL Online

The Ohio Department of Public Safety (DPS) and Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) recently announce that Ohio’s truckers can renew their CDL online.

Following the rollout of online renewal for standard drivers licenses, CLD’s can now be renewed via the BMV portal, and mailed to drivers addresses. 4/23/2024

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