Leadership

OMA Urges Congressional Delegation to Support NAFTA Replacement

This week, the OMA urged Ohio’s federal representatives to support approval of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The USMCA would replace the North American Free Trade Agreement, the 1994 deal that removed most tariffs and other trade barriers between the three countries.

In a letter sent to all 18 members of Ohio’s congressional delegation, OMA President Eric Burkland noted that in 2017, Ohio manufacturers sold $27 billion of manufactured goods to Canada and Mexico, and that more than 3,800 Ohio manufacturers export to Canada and Mexico.

Burkland wrote that passing the agreement will “strengthen and modernize America’s innovation engine by including best-in-class intellectual property rules,” while leveling the playing field between the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The jobs of nearly 103,000 Ohio manufacturing workers depend on exports to Canada and Mexico, and that without the USMCA, Ohio’s manufactured goods exports to Canada and Mexico could face as much as $3.1 billion in extra taxes (compared to zero tariffs today). 4/24/2019

Magazine: Ohio No. 1 for Tech-Driven Manufacturing

Global Trade magazine has ranked Ohio the No. 1 state for tech-driven manufacturing.

In an April 20 article, the magazine wrote: “If you search any top 10 list for manufacturing (tech-driven or otherwise), there are a few states that come up repeatedly” — and Ohio is among them. According to the periodical, Ohio “has a long history of manufacturing and a skilled workforce to put its money where its mouth is,” with a “heavily pro-manufacturing business climate that has earned Ohio significant investment in the technology-driven manufacturing sector.” 04/24/2019

Tell Congress to Pass North American Trade Deal

Did you know that 102,700 manufacturing jobs in Ohio depend on trade with Mexico and Canada? 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.

Clearly, Ohio manufacturers are counting on passage of the new United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) agreement. You can click here to contact your member of Congress to urge him/her to pass the USMCA to help protect the future of Ohio manufacturing. 4/16/2019

OMA Member Re-Appointed to Small Business Council

This week, Lt. Governor Jon Husted announced that Michael Canty of Cuyahoga County — owner, president and CEO of OMA member Alloy Bellows and Precision Welding — is returning as an appointed member of Ohio’s Common Sense Initiative (CSI) Small Business Advisory Council (SBAC). The SBAC advises CSI on drafted or existing rules that have a negative impact on the state’s small businesses. 4/17/2019

DeWine Appoints New JobsOhio Chair

Gov. Mike DeWine this week appointed Robert Smith as the new chairman of JobsOhio, the state’s private economic development organization. Smith is the market leader of the Cleveland office of Cerity Partners, a wealth management firm. He has extensive civic engagement experience, including serving as chairman of Team NEO, one of JobsOhio’s affiliates. Smith is the second DeWine appointment to the nine-member JobsOhio board. The first was Rick Platt, president and CEO of the Heath-Newark-Licking County Port Authority. Rick is also an OMA member. 4/17/2019

Work on Budget Bill Continues

Members of the House Finance Committee continued hearings this week on state budget bills that must be completed by June 30. Amendments are being submitted by members of the House with the first round of revisions expected May 1. Top political issues include the school funding formula and Medicaid spending.

However, numerous policy changes are also in the mix. See the OMA’s updated state budget issues watch list.

Manufacturers with an interest in particular provisions are invited to coordinate with OMA staff members Ryan Augsburger and Rob Brundrett. OMA public policy staff will also be reviewing budget items at upcoming OMA committee meetings. 4/11/2019

Reineke to Run for Senate Seat

Rep. Bill Reineke (R-Findlay) announced that he will seek the Republican nomination for Ohio’s 26^th Senate District in 2020. The seat is currently held by Sen. Dave Burke (R-Marysville), who is term-limited.

Reineke received the endorsement of the OMA-PAC in past races as a pro-manufacturing legislator. 4/10/2019

Manufacturing Institute Honors Women in Manufacturing

The Manufacturing Institute has announced the 2019 STEP Ahead Award Honorees and Emerging Leaders. These women have accomplished success within their companies and have proven to be leaders in the industry as a whole.

These 130 women were honored this week at the 2019 STEP Ahead Awards at the National Building Museum. Congratulations to the honorees! 4/11/2019

Trump Executive Orders Seek to Expedite Energy Infrastructure Projects

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) reported that President Trump this week signed two major executive orders aimed at cutting red tape and speeding up the permitting process for energy infrastructure projects.

One of the orders seeks to clarify permitting for cross-border energy infrastructure and is intended to prevent future projects like the Keystone XL Pipeline from getting caught up in years of litigation, reviews and delays.

The other order takes aim at oft-overlooked laws and regulations — including so-called “401 certifications” — that have been used by opposition groups to delay the permitting process for energy infrastructure projects. 4/11/2019

Follow OMA on Social Media

After almost 109 years of operation, OMA now has a presence on Facebook, LinkedIn as well as Twitter! As we get up and running, our social sites will feature OMA news, events, updates and information about Ohio’s manufacturing sector.

Be sure to follow us so you can interact. What would OMA founder, Col. John Gordon Battelle, think! 4/10/2019