News and Analysis
NAM 2017 State of Manufacturing Tour Stops in Ohio
March 3, 2017
This week, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) 2017 State of Manufacturing Tour made stops at Honda, Anheuser-Busch, and Worthington Industries in central Ohio.
The 2017 tour also made stops in Austin, New York City, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Madison.
The purpose of the tour is to reignite the American imagination of what’s achievable in modern manufacturing.
Pictured: OMA president Eric Burkland and NAM CEO Jay Timmons checking out the Acura NSX at Honda
Women in Manufacturing Honored
March 3, 2017This week The Manufacturing Institute announced 130 women to be honored with the Women in Manufacturing STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Ahead Award. STEP Ahead works to promote women in manufacturing.
For the fifth year anniversary, the STEP Ahead theme is “IMPACT.” STEP Ahead women all across the U.S. have made a pledge to promote the importance of women in manufacturing, and have made an impact on their companies and communities.
Here are the honorees. An OMA shout out to each and every one of them! 3/2/2017
Ohio 2nd & 3rd in Site Selection’s 2016 Governor’s Cup Standings
March 3, 2017Site Selection magazine has just turned in the 2016 Governor’s Cup results.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott claimed a fifth consecutive Governor’s Cup for total qualified projects, 642 in 2016. Texas’ winning streak began when it wrested first place from Ohio in 2009. Including for its 515 projects in 2016, the Buckeye State has placed second in total projects ever since. Rounding out the top five in this category are Illinois (434), North Carolina (289) and Georgia (271).
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts claimed a Site Selection Governor’s Cup by virtue of his state having the most capital investment projects per capita, 101 projects for 2016. Rounding out the top five in the per capita category are Kentucky (227), Ohio (515), Louisiana (169) and Illinois (434).
The Governor’s Cups reflect yearly project totals as tracked by the Conway Projects Database. Qualifying projects must meet one or more of these criteria for inclusion in the database: a minimum capital investment of $1 million, 20 or more new jobs created, and 20,000 or more square feet of new space. 3/2/2017
OMA Urges Prevention of Unsafe Used Tire Installation
March 3, 2017Members of the Ohio House Economic Development, Commerce and Labor Committee heard proponent testimony this week on HB 42, which revises Ohio’s deceptive trade practices act to strengthen civil and criminal penalties related to the installation of unsafe used tires.
The legislation, jointly sponsored by Reps. Robert Sprague (R–Findlay) and Anthony DiVitis (R–Akron), is supported by rubber and tire manufacturers.
Here is the proponent testimony OMA offered. 3/2/2017
NAM Kicks Off 2017 State of Manufacturing Tour
February 24, 2017Jay Timmons, President and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), will tour manufacturing facilities across six states to “show the country the true story of modern manufacturing and the incredible, rewarding careers we offer.”
The 2017 State of Manufacturing Tour tour was kicked off in Austin, Texas earlier this week. Tour stops in Ohio include Honda, Anheuser-Busch, and Worthington Industries on Monday, February 27. Other states on the tour include New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. 2/22/2017
Ex-Im Bank Requires Functioning Board
February 24, 2017While the U.S. Export-Import Bank, which is an important “lender of last resort” for industry, secured a long-term reauthorization in December 2015, the bank still lacks a quorum for its board of directors, leaving the agency unable to review and approve transactions over $10 million.
All five board seats are currently open and will need to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is urging President Trump to take action to support the thousands of manufacturers that turn to the Ex-Im Bank for financing and insurance when the private sector cannot provide comparable tools.
NAM will also be urging members of the Senate Banking Committee to move quickly on consideration of nominees when the president announces them.
NAM is interested in identifying local exporters who plan to grow U.S. jobs if they can secure Ex-Im Bank financing support and in gathering examples of transactions in the pipeline that require bank board approval to move forward. Contact NAM’s Amy Rawlings. More from NAM. 2/22/2017
On the Road Again: Governor Taking State of State to Sandusky
February 17, 2017In preparation for his annual State of the State address, Governor Kasich sent a letter to the General Assembly requesting a joint session in Sandusky at 7:00 p.m. on April 4, 2017 at the Sandusky State Theatre.
The proposal to convene the General Assembly in Sandusky marks the sixth year in a row that Kasich has asked to hold State of the State outside of the Ohio Statehouse. In previous years the governor has delivered his address in Steubenville, Lima, Medina, Wilmington and Marietta. 2/13/2017
NAM Event will Honor Rep. Steve Stivers
February 17, 2017
On Thursday, February 23, PPG and the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) will honor Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH-15) a recipient of the NAM Award for Manufacturing Legislative Excellence. The event will take place at the PPG facility located at 559 Pittsburgh Road Circleville, OH 43113-9436. The program will begin promptly at 2:15 p.m.
The NAM Award for Manufacturing Legislative Excellence recognizes Representative Stivers’ exemplary voting record in the 114th Congress and his solid support for a strong manufacturing economy and a forward-thinking manufacturing agenda.
The meeting will also include an informal discussion of key issues. Register here. 2/14/2017
Favorable Employment Discrimination Bill Gets First Hearing
February 17, 2017House Bill 2, recently introduced by Rep. Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati), proposes to comprehensively overhaul Ohio’s employment discrimination statutes in a manner that would benefit employers and bring Ohio’s laws more in line with federal discrimination laws while continuing to provide individuals avenues to assert state law discrimination violations.
In sponsor testimony Rep. Seitz said, “Ohio is currently at a competitive disadvantage with employment discrimination laws which are substantially dissimilar to their counterparts at the federal level. Drastically differing state and federal laws create an administrative burden for employers and human resource professionals. Shaping Ohio law to mirror federal law will create greater predictability in matters of workplace discrimination for both employers and employees.” 2/16/2017
OMA Opposes County Regulation of Motor Vehicles
February 17, 2017The OMA this week expressed caution to the sponsor of legislation that would empower county governments to regulate motor vehicles. Senator John Eklund (R-Chardon) introduced SB 30; he testified that the law change is needed to clarify a 1993 Supreme Court decision that took away local regulatory authority.
In a joint letter with other business organizations, the OMA contends that the bill “will enable and encourage a patchwork of differing county-wide traffic regulations making it difficult, inefficient, and unsafe to move goods throughout the state of Ohio.” 2/16/2017