News and Analysis
A Good Friend Retires
October 28, 2016
Pictured: Brad Belden, Dave Johnson, Rep. Kirk Schuring, Bill Belden, Bill Sopko, and Eric Burkland
Manufacturers and Rep. Kirk Schuring gathered this week to honor Bill Belden, Jr., retiring chairman and CEO of The Belden Brick Company, Canton.
Rep. Schuring presented Bill with a proclamation of recognition on behalf of the Ohio House of Representatives.
Bill has lead the Belden Brick Co. since 1983 as president and later chairman and CEO. He is well known in the Canton area and beyond for his involvement in civic and charitable works. He served as a director of the OMA board since 1999.
Godspeed, Bill, thank you for your generous service to the community of Ohio manufacturers. 10/25/2016
Bill Introduced to Regulate Autonomous Cars
October 28, 2016The Ohio legislature has entered into the business of regulating the future of automobile travel. This week Reps. Cheryl Grossman (R-Grove City) and Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin) introduced House Bill 608 which authorizes the use of autonomous vehicles on Ohio’s roadways under certain requirements and requires the Ohio Department of Transportation to produce a report evaluating whether additional legislative or regulatory actions are necessary for the purpose of ensuring the safe testing of autonomous vehicles.
If you have an interest in this bill, please contact OMA’s Rob Brundrett. 10/27/2016
OMA Urges Action on Unemployment Compensation Reform
October 21, 2016This week, OMA Safety and Workers’ Compensation Committee Chairman, Larry Holmes, VP, Finance, Ft. Recovery Industries, and Rob Brundrett, Director, Public Policy Services, OMA, testified before the House and Senate Joint Committee on Unemployment Compensation Reform.
Chairman Holmes focused on the importance of passing new trust fund solvency measures to prevent future federal tax penalties on employers and Brundrett focused on options the state should consider when debating the issue, including bonding future debt, exempting benefits from state taxes, and applying an accurate solvency standard.
The committee will meet once more in early November. The OMA and its business allies are urging action on the reform measure, HB 394, during the lame duck session following election day. 10/20/2016
“Lame Duck” Session Schedule Set
October 21, 2016This week Ohio Speaker of the House Cliff Rosenberger announced a revised session schedule post the November election. The “lame duck” session will last just a few (likely very busy) weeks before the House and Senate adjourn and the new General Assembly is seated in early January.
The OMA top priority for lame duck is passage of HB 394 to fix the solvency of Ohio’s unemployment compensation system. 10/20/2016
Obama Administration Releases Report on American Manufacturing
October 21, 2016This month, October 2016, Manufacturing Month, the Obama Administration takes stock of the U.S. manufacturing sector in a new report released by the National Economic Council.
Here’s the report: Revitalizing American Manufacturing – The Obama Administration’s Progress in Establishing a Foundation for Manufacturing Leadership. 10/14/2016
Ohio Federal Research Network Focuses on Manufacturing at Nov. Event
October 21, 2016The purpose of the Ohio Federal Research Network (OFRN) is to organize research initiatives within Ohio’s university system and Ohio’s four federal labs (AFRL, NAMRU-D, NASA GRC, NASIC) to grow Ohio’ s research talent base, attract outside public and private investment, and retain and create new jobs.
Central to this mission are Centers of Excellence (COE); six centers have been established with funding for research projects with high commercialization potential. One such center is the Materials & Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence.
On November 10, manufacturers are invited to an event at TechSolve in Cincinnati to learn more about the OFRN resources and opportunities. The keynote speaker is Dr. Ajay Misra, Chief, Materials and Structures Division at NASA Glenn Research Center, who will share thoughts on the importance of the Ohio Federal Research Network and “what’s in it for you.”
Find more information here. 10/14/2016
Manufacturers Push Infrastructure Improvement Agenda
October 14, 2016The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and OMA this week released “Building to Win,” a new initiative focused on our nation’s failing infrastructure.
Both major party presidential candidates have indicated their desire to address our infrastructure needs in 2017. The NAM and OMA will work collaboratively to encourage the next president and lawmakers in Ohio to address the most pressing infrastructure priorities.
In a joint release, OMA President Eric Burkland said, “Among OMA’s top policy goals is a modern, job-supporting infrastructure. We must invest in updating and expanding our multi-modal transportation infrastructure, including roads, bridges, rails and ports, as well as our water treatment systems. Infrastructure improvement is a state and federal priority for manufacturing.”
Please see the full release and key recommendations of the initiative here. 10/12/2016
Judges Fischer, DeWine and O’Connor for Supreme Court
October 14, 2016
The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association Political Action Committee (OMA-PAC), chaired by Scott Balogh, President & CEO, Mar-Bal Corp., has endorsed Judges Pat Fischer and Pat DeWine for Supreme Court of Ohio.
OMA-PAC also endorsed Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor, who has no opposition in her race.
The OMA-PAC board vetted these candidates and backs them as the best choices for stability and predictability for Ohio manufacturers. 10/7/2016
Pictured: Judge Pat Fischer and Ryan Augsburger, VP & Managing Director, OMA Public Policy Services
Gov. Kasich Defends Trans-Pacific Trade Partnership – Here’s Why
October 14, 2016In his opinion piece run this week in the Washington Post, Gov. Kasich lays out his rationale for passing the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
He says of Congress, “How they vote on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement will affect the course of the United States’ security, prosperity and global influence for the rest of the 21st century and determine whether we advance or retreat from our leadership role at a time of worldwide turmoil and uncertainty.”
Read it all here. 10/13/2016
Women in Manufacturing Study: Sound off!
October 14, 2016The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the Manufacturing Institute, and Deloitte are conducting a study to identify the impact that women in manufacturing have in their companies and in their communities across various roles.
Please provide your insights into factors that either attract or deter women in manufacturing. It will take just a few minutes.
Forward to your network; a significant response is hoped for.
You may be interested in a study that NAM, The Manufacturing Institute, APICS and Deloitte released last year, Minding the Manufacturing Gender Gap, which focused on trends and strategies to recruit, retain and advance women in manufacturing. 10/12/2016