News and Analysis
Coalition Urges Senate to Drop Drug Price Controls
June 7, 2019Among the many policy changes contained within the pending legislation to fund Ohio’s government (House Bill 166), is a provision to tie drug prices to an unproven foreign-based pricing index.
A coalition of businesses and organizations, including the OMA, recently wrote state senators asking them to reject the “International Pricing Index” proposal, as included in the House-passed version of HB166. The letter notes that if the proposal is enacted into law, “there are likely to be negative consequences for Ohians who depend on medication,” as well as for the Ohio economy.
More than 75,000 Ohioans are employed at more than 4,000 locations in the bio-science sector, which would be directly affected by the price control plan. 6/6/2019
NAM Official: USMCA Passage is Critical for Manufacturers in Every State
May 31, 2019The National Association of Manufacturers has repeated its call for prompt congressional approval of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which would modernize and replace the 25-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement.
The Trump administration has delayed submitting the treaty to Congress due to House Democrats’ concerns about the deal’s labor provisions. Formally submitting the treaty to Congress would trigger a 60-day deadline for USMCA’s approval, as dictated by the Trade Promotion Authority law.
Last year, Ohio manufacturers sold $27 billion of manufactured goods to Canada and Mexico. One in three manufacturers in the Buckeye State sells products to Canada and Mexico. Last month, the OMA wrote all members of Ohio’s federal delegation in support of the USMCA. If you would like to weigh in with your congressional representatives, click here. 5/28/2019
Deadline to Register for Ohio Food Manufacturers’ Event
May 31, 2019The deadline is nearing to register for the OMA’s Food Manufacturers’ Policy Council, set for Tuesday, June 4, in Columbus. This is the most important public policy event of the year for Ohio’s food, beverage, and food packaging manufacturers. Click here for the day’s agenda. For more information or to register, call (800) 662-4463, or register online. 5/30/2019
Report: Celina has Ohio’s Fastest Growing Economy
May 24, 2019With a population of just over 10,000, Celina is home to Ohio’s fastest-growing economy. That’s according to Ohio State University economist Mark Partridge, who told The Daily Standard that “since 2010, Celina is growing 20 times faster than the U.S. non-metro (rural) average in terms of jobs.” Celina Mayor Jeff Hazel said “this is due to the more than 600 businesses located within a mile of the city.”
Celina is located in Mercer County, where more than a quarter of jobs are in manufacturing.
According to Partridge, job growth in Ohio’s rural areas since 2010 has been strong, nearly comparable to the growth in the state’s major cities. 5/21/2019
Senator Brown Announces Manufacturing Camps
May 24, 2019U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) has announced that his office is continuing a summer tradition of organizing manufacturing camps for Ohio students in fourth through eighth grades. The camps are aimed at exposing students to local manufacturing companies and potential career opportunities.
The senator’s office is partnering with the OMA and local businesses and community leaders to host 27 summer camps in 21 counties. A complete list can be found here.5/23/2019
It’s Not the Super Bowl, but it Will be a Big Party
May 24, 2019Ohio, the birthplace of professional football, will host the 2021 NFL draft. The NFL announced this week that Cleveland, a city that knows how to tie partying to football, will be that year’s host city.
The Cleveland Browns will celebrate their 75th anniversary in 2021. 5/22/2022
CEO Survey: Ohio a Top 10 State for Business
May 17, 2019Last week, Chief Executive magazine published its latest “Best and Worst States for Business” ranking. The comparison, which is based on surveys of CEOs from across the nation, ranked Ohio the ninth best state for business, a one spot improvement from 2018.
According to the magazine, “The Buckeye State continues to see strong growth in several sectors, including finance, manufacturing and logistics.”
Texas remained in the survey’s top spot, followed by Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Indiana. Coming in last at No. 50 was California, preceded by New York, Illinois, New Jersey, and Connecticut. See the complete rankings here. 5/13/2019
Infrastructure Week Winds Down
May 17, 2019Infrastructure Week is coming to a close as businesses and organizations across the country have dedicated the past several days to focus on America’s infrastructure challenges. Infrastructure Week is especially relevant in Ohio, which is home to five interstates, 13 inter-modal rail terminals, 11 ports, and four major airports.
According to the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), of Ohio’s 122,987 miles of public roads, 18% are in poor condition and 6% of Ohio’s bridges are rated structurally deficient. The Cleveland Section of the ASCE has given Northeast Ohio an overall grade point average of “D+” for the region’s infrastructure.
You can show your support for making critical infrastructure a top priority in Ohio and across the U.S. by signing The National Association of Manufacturers’ petition to federal lawmakers. 5/16/2019
JobsOhio Chief to Visit with Manufacturers, June 5
May 17, 2019
Members are invited to register for the June 5 OMA Government Affairs Committee meeting. Guest speaker will be J.P. Nauseef, the new president and chief investment officer of JobsOhio, the state’s economic development organization.
Mr. Nauseef and Dana Saucier, vice president and head of economic development, will provide OMA members with an update on JobsOhio activity and answer questions. Register now. 5/16/2019
Sen. Brown to Keynote Global Leadership Event in Cleveland, May 31
May 17, 2019OMA members are invited to participate in a dynamic lunch discussion with U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown on America’s role in the world and the positive impact of global affairs programs in Ohio. The event will be held Friday, May 31, from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Tower. Other speakers will include Devry Boughner Vorwerk, corporate vice president of global corporate affairs for Cargill, as well as former Gov. Bob Taft.
Hosted by the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, the event is free to attend and lunch will be provided, but you must register in advance. If you have any questions, please e-mail Robert Watson. 5/15/2019