Leadership

‘State of State’ Address Set for Jan. 31

Gov. Mike DeWine’s 2023 “State of the State” address will be held at noon Tuesday, Jan. 31. In his address to state lawmakers, the governor is expected to lay out his priorities for his second term, including the new two-year budget. Members can watch the address at The Ohio Channel’s website. 1/25/2023

Rep. Brian Baldridge Nominated as Ag Director

Gov. Mike DeWine has selected state Rep. Brian Baldridge (R-Winchester) to lead the Ohio Department of Agriculture, following the retirement of Dorothy Pelanda. Read more. 1/23/2023

Bricker & Eckler, Graydon Law Firms to Combine

Columbus-based law firm Bricker & Eckler — the OMA’s general counsel — and Cincinnati-based law firm Graydon Head & Ritchey have announced their plans to merge effective April 3. Once merged, the firm will operate as Bricker Graydon LLP. Read more. 1/24/2023

Ohio Gets Solid Marks in Site Selection Comparison

Site Selection magazine has published its annual “State of the States” report, comparing business-related data for all 50 states. As shown on this page, Ohio has the nation’s seventh-largest GDP and is among the nation’s best states for workers’ compensation costs, higher education R&D expenditures, and growth in career readiness certificates earned by adults. 1/23/2023

One-Year Anniversary of Intel’s Ohio Announcement

This week marks the first anniversary of Intel’s historic announcement that it will invest tens of billions of dollars to build leading-edge semiconductor factories in Ohio. (See the OMA’s “Intel in Ohio” page.)

Lt. Gov. Jon Husted this week told ABC 6 in Columbus that site prep is nearly complete and construction of the factories is on track to start this winter. But federal funding, aimed at expediting the project, had not yet arrived.

At this week’s World Economic Forum, Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger said passage of the federal CHIPS Act was a “turning point” in global competition with China and critical to U.S. manufacturing. As reported by Fox Business, he emphasized the importance of America’s technology leadership to make supply chains more resilient. 1/19/2023

How Artificial Intelligence Is Boosting Supply Chains

OMA Connections Partner BSI has published this insight into how technology is addressing supply chain challenges. The firm encourages logistics professionals to explore integrating artificial intelligence to protect supply chains against current and future global challenges. 1/19/2023

Ohio’s 2024 U.S. Senate Race Gets an Early Start

Although the 2022 general election was just two months ago, the 2024 campaign season is already underway after state Sen. Matt Dolan (R-Chagrin Falls) announced this week he’s running to contest incumbent U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH). Dolan placed third in last year’s GOP primary for the open U.S. Senate seat won by now-U.S. Sen. JD Vance (R-OH). Hear Dolan’s Jan. 18 interview on 610 WTVN.

Other Republicans are expected to enter the contest. Brown has said previously he will seek a fourth term. 1/17/2023

OMA Releases 2023 Committee Schedule

One of the benefits of OMA membership is the ability to participate in the association’s policy committee meetings. Whether attending in person or virtually, these events offer members the chance to learn more about legislation and policy-related developments; interact with decision makers; and work with colleagues from the manufacturing community.

This one-page document includes all 2023 meeting dates and information on how to register. OMA maintains policy committees in the areas of energy, environment, government affairs, safety and workers’ compensation, and tax and finance. All OMA members are eligible to attend at no cost. 1/9/2023

DeWine Starts Second Term by Saluting Manufacturers

On Jan. 9, Gov. Mike DeWine took the oath of office for his second term as governor in a ceremonial swearing-in at the Statehouse. (He was sworn in officially the evening of Jan. 8, three days after his 76th birthday.)

In his inaugural remarks at the Statehouse, DeWine spotlighted industry, saying: “Manufacturing is flourishing. Ohio has always been a manufacturing state. But now we are bringing the highest tech manufacturing known to man to the state of Ohio, and the world is taking notice.”

Staff from the OMA and several member companies attended the swearing-in ceremonies of the governor, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, and other state officeholders. Watch the governor’s inaugural speech here. (Also, here’s a look at the governor’s cabinet following some recent retirements.) 1/10/2023

Unexpected Twist for the 135th: A ‘Majority GOP Caucus’

As previously reported, Ohio’s 135th General Assembly got underway last week with Rep. Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) elected speaker of the Ohio House — the result of 22 of 67 Republicans voting with the House’s 32 Democrats.

The vote surprised and angered supporters of Rep. Derek Merrin (R-Monclova Township), who just weeks before had been unofficially selected by House Republicans to be the next speaker.

This week, the rift between House Republicans grew following a meeting of Merrin and his supporters, who declared they are the “Republican Majority Caucus” and will be united in pushing conservative policy. Read reports by The Plain Dealer and The Columbus Dispatch. 1/12/2023