Leadership

Labor Day weekend is the unofficial starting gun for election season, and the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) is getting a head start.

The 2026 Ohio Election Guide is now online, along with OMA’s updated Manufacturing Election Services Center, giving voters one place to check candidates, district maps, political data, endorsements and key races across Ohio.

“After Labor Day, Ohio voters are about to get buried in campaign ads, mailers and talking points,” said Ryan Augsburger, president of OMA. “We figured we should give them something more useful.”

OMA has published the guide every two years for four decades. This year’s edition covers statewide, congressional, judicial and legislative races and includes updated maps, candidate profiles, political data and economic information showing how manufacturing fits into each district.

Start with the 2026 Ohio Election Guide, then head to OMA’s Manufacturing Election Services Center for endorsements, voter resources and everything else you need before Election Day.

Additional printed copies are available for $30 each, including shipping and handling. To order, email Lisa Cummings-Dye or call (614) 224-5111. 9/4/2026

With Election Day approaching, the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) is bringing two of the country’s best-known political analysts to Columbus for a timely look at the races, numbers and voter trends shaping 2026.

Kyle Kondik, managing editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics, will join OMA’s Government Affairs Committee on Wednesday, Sept. 30, to break down the latest polling, voter sentiment and political trends heading into November.

Kondik also brings a distinctly Ohio perspective to the conversation. An Ohio native and graduate of Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, he previously worked in state government and is the author of The Bellwether: Why Ohio Picks the President, an examination of Ohio’s long role in presidential politics.

The next day, NBC News Chief Data Analyst Steve Kornacki will headline the Ohio Manufacturers’ Annual Forum with the fast-moving, data-driven election analysis that has made his “big board” a fixture of election coverage.

“Kyle knows Ohio politics exceptionally well, and Steve has a remarkable ability to make complicated election data understandable,” said James Lee, managing director of public policy for the OMA. “Having both of them with us just weeks before Election Day gives our members a chance to hear what is really shaping the 2026 races.”

The Annual Forum is Thursday, Oct. 1, at The Grand Event Center in Columbus. Networking begins at 11 a.m., followed by the program from noon to 2 p.m. Forum registration also includes the Sept. 30 welcome reception at Hofbräuhaus Columbus.

With the campaign entering its final stretch, there may not be a better time to hear from two analysts who spend their lives studying where voters are moving and why.

Register now for the Ohio Manufacturers’ Annual Forum. 9/3/2026

Ohio Manufacturers’ Association President Ryan Augsburger told a sold-out audience of more than 600 business leaders Thursday morning that Ohio’s ability to compete will depend in part on getting energy policy right.

Speaking at the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber’s Salute to Business alongside OMA Board member Mark Lamoncha, Augsburger highlighted manufacturing’s $138 billion contribution to Ohio’s economy and the opportunities ahead in reshoring, defense, automation and advanced manufacturing.

Energy was a major part of that discussion. Augsburger walked through how generation, distribution and transmission costs show up on customer bills, while making the case that Ohio needs both affordable and reliable power to support future growth.

He also emphasized the need for greater accountability in electricity demand forecasting, including safeguards against counting the same proposed load multiple times and assumptions that fail to keep pace with rapid advances in technology and energy efficiency.

“We appreciate the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber bringing together such a strong group of business leaders for this conversation,” Augsburger said. “Ohio has tremendous opportunity in front of it. We need an energy system that supports that growth with affordable, reliable power, better forecasting and more room for innovation and competition.” 9/3/2026

Ohio manufacturing is having a pretty good moment.

Business Facilities’ 2026 Annual Rankings put Ohio No. 3 in the nation for manufacturing jobs and No. 4 among manufacturing hubs. The state also ranked No. 2 for automotive manufacturing, while Columbus, Cincinnati and Findlay all earned top-10 spots among manufacturing hubs in their respective city-size categories.

“That is what a manufacturing powerhouse looks like,” said Ryan Augsburger, president of the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. “Ohio is No. 3 in manufacturing jobs, No. 4 among manufacturing hubs and No. 2 in automotive. At some point, you stop calling that potential. You call it what it is. Ohio is one of the best places in America to make things.”

The rankings measure factors including manufacturing employment, investment activity, industrial momentum and sector strength, putting Ohio near the top across several of the categories that matter most to manufacturers. 9/2/2026

ProVia is making a major bet on Dover, acquiring Schaeffler’s unfinished manufacturing facility and planning a $110 million investment that is expected to create about 400 jobs and $27 million in annual payroll. The Ohio company will complete the 310,000-square-foot facility in 2027 and use it to manufacture custom replacement windows.

“ProVia keeps giving us reasons to brag about Ohio manufacturing,” said Ryan Augsburger, president of the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA). “Seeing an OMA member invest $110 million and add 400 jobs is a pretty good one.”

Schaeffler had originally planned to manufacture electric vehicle components at the Dover site before changing course as the EV market shifted. ProVia, headquartered in Walnut Creek, had been looking for additional capacity as its existing operations continued to grow. 8/31/2026

Livi Steel, Inc. is preparing for Manufacturing Month in October with a milestone on the horizon. The third-generation, family-owned structural steel fabricator will mark 49 years in business Oct. 13.

Founded in 1977, Livi Steel has grown from its Mahoning Valley roots while maintaining a strong family culture inside the company. The Warren manufacturer fabricates structural steel for schools, warehouses, medical facilities, office buildings and other projects across the region, while investing in advanced technology including the PeddiAssembler and PythonX robotic platform.

“Companies like Livi Steel are a big part of what makes Ohio manufacturing special,” said Ryan Augsburger, president of the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA). “Nearly 50 years of building a business, investing in technology and creating opportunities for people in the Mahoning Valley is something worth celebrating. Livi Steel has kept evolving while staying rooted in the people and community that built the company.”

Livi Steel, an OMA member, also partners with workforce organizations including Flying HIGH Inc. to help train welders and fitters and serves as a Second Chance Employer. The company plans to use Manufacturing Month to highlight careers in the skilled trades as it approaches 49 years in business and continues building toward its next chapter. 9/4/2026

Labor Day weekend gets treated like the unofficial end of summer. In Ohio manufacturing, it is also a good reminder of who keeps this state moving.

Every shift, every shipment and every production line depends on people doing skilled, demanding work that rarely gets much attention outside the plant.

This weekend, they deserve it. 9/4/2026

After a day spent questioning forecasts, costs and who ultimately gets stuck with the bill, attendees at the Ohio Manufacturers’ Energy Conference left with one more takeaway.

A red DENIED stamp.

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) handed one to every attendee as a reminder that not every forecast, assumption or cost shift deserves an automatic yes.

“We considered something more subtle, but subtle isn’t really our style,” said Dave O’Neil, director of communications for the OMA.

The message behind the stamp was simple. When the numbers do not add up, when the risk gets pushed onto existing customers or when “because the forecast says so” becomes the justification, manufacturers should be ready to push back.

Now they have the stamp to prove it. 8/27/2026

State Sen. Mark Romanchuk was honored Thursday with the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association’s (OMA) Dan French Legacy Award, recognizing his leadership, service and commitment to Ohio manufacturing.

Romanchuk, a manufacturer himself at PR Machine Works, brings something especially valuable to the Statehouse. He knows firsthand what policy decisions look like once they reach the plant floor. He understands the pressure of rising costs, the need to stay competitive and the consequences when government gets the details wrong.

His leadership has been especially important on energy policy. Romanchuk is the co-sponsor of Senate Bill 457, the Electricity Forecast Integrity Act, which would bring greater independent review, transparency and accountability to the load forecasts driving billions of dollars in grid investment and customer costs.

“Mark does not just accept the numbers he is handed,” said Lindsey Short, managing director of advocacy and energy services for the OMA. “He asks who checked the math, who bears the risk and who gets stuck with the bill if the forecast is wrong. That kind of scrutiny is exactly what Ohio energy policy needs.”

The Dan French Legacy Award honors individuals who demonstrate exemplary service and leadership on behalf of Ohio’s manufacturing community. 8/27/2026

After a standing-room-only crowd at yesterday’s Ohio Manufacturers’ Energy Conference, the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) is already looking ahead to the next big one.

The 2026 Ohio Manufacturers’ Annual Forum is set for Oct. 1, headlined by Whirlpool Chairman and CEO Marc Bitzer and NBC News chief data analyst Steve Kornacki.

Bitzer will bring the perspective of a global manufacturing leader navigating investment, innovation and workforce challenges. Kornacki will break down the political landscape just weeks before Election Day, giving attendees a data-driven look at the races and trends shaping 2026.

“The OMA has apparently forgot how to host small events,” said James Lee, managing director of public policy services for the OMA. “After packing the room for Energy Conference, we figured we might as well keep going. Bitzer and Kornacki on the same program is a pretty good way to do it.”

Our Energy Conference packed the room. The Annual Forum should do it again. Register today. 8/28/2026

Cleveland-Cliffs is putting $1 billion behind Middletown Works, with Washington picking up half the tab.

The U.S. Department of Energy announced a $500 million award to support a $1 billion modernization project at Cleveland-Cliffs’ Middletown Works facility. Vice President JD Vance and Energy Secretary Chris Wright visited the plant this past Friday to highlight the investment, which is expected to protect 2,300 jobs and strengthen domestic steel production.

The project will rebuild and upgrade Middletown Works’ main blast furnace, deploy artificial intelligence to improve furnace operations and energy efficiency, and build an on-site facility to convert steel mill process gases into electricity. Cleveland-Cliffs also plans follow-on investments that would turn industrial byproducts into materials used in concrete.

“A billion-dollar investment tells you everything you need to know about Cleveland-Cliffs’ commitment to Middletown,” said Ryan Augsburger, president of the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA). “This is not some press release promise. It is real capital going into a real Ohio plant, supporting thousands of jobs and strengthening one of the most important pieces of the American manufacturing supply chain.”

Cleveland-Cliffs, an OMA member, is the nation’s largest flat-rolled steel producer, and Middletown Works supplies steel used by the automotive, HVAC, appliance and steel-distribution industries. Construction is expected to begin in the coming weeks. 8/24/2026

Ohio’s manufacturing workforce strategy drew national attention this week as Ohio Manufacturers’ Association President Ryan Augsburger participated in a workforce roundtable with Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling, U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno, JobsOhio and state and business leaders in Columbus.

The discussion focused on how Ohio’s industry-led approach can help advance America’s Talent Strategy by making workforce systems more responsive to employer demand and expanding training and earn-and-learn opportunities that help manufacturers build the talent they need.

“Ohio already has the relationships, the infrastructure and the employer leadership to execute,” Augsburger said. “The opportunity now is to scale what works and show the country what an industry-led workforce system can deliver.”

The stakes are substantial. Ohio manufacturing needs an estimated 35,000 new entry-level operators and mid-level technicians each year to support continued investment and growth across the state. 8/17/2026

Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman will meet with Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) members Sept. 30 for a Government Affairs Committee discussion on the policy and political issues shaping Ohio’s manufacturing economy.

The meeting gives members a direct opportunity to hear from one of the state’s most influential policymakers and engage on the issues likely to drive the months ahead. The OMA Public Policy team will also provide an update on key legislative and regulatory developments.

“Speaker Huffman is right in the middle of the decisions that will shape Ohio’s business climate for years to come,” said James Lee, managing director of public policy services at the OMA. “This is a valuable opportunity for members to hear directly from him, ask questions and understand where the General Assembly may be headed next.”

The discussion kicks off the OMA’s Annual Forum experience, followed by the welcome reception at Hofbräuhaus Columbus and the Oct. 1 Forum featuring Whirlpool Chairman and CEO Marc Bitzer and NBC News Chief Data Analyst Steve Kornacki.

Registration for the Annual Forum is open now. 8/21/2026

Predictability matters when businesses are making decisions that will shape Ohio’s economy for decades.

That was the message this week as the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) joined the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, NFIB Ohio, Ohio Business Roundtable and Ohio Farm Bureau Federation in supporting Justice Dan Hawkins and Colleen O’Donnell for the Ohio Supreme Court.

Court decisions can shape everything from contracts and taxes to workers’ compensation and regulation. OMA President Ryan Augsburger said Ohio needs judges who understand the importance of applying the law consistently and leaving policymaking to the legislature.

“Manufacturers make investments measured in decades, not election cycles,” Augsburger said. “Justice Dan Hawkins and Colleen O’Donnell understand that courts should provide certainty by applying the law as written, not creating new policy from the bench.”

That kind of judicial restraint matters to Ohio’s business climate. Long-term investment depends on knowing the rules will be applied consistently, not rewritten from the bench. 8/18/2026

Ohio’s global relationships were on display in Canton recently as ambassadors from nine southeast Asian nations met with business and economic development leaders to discuss investment, technology and opportunities for stronger ties with the state.

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) was represented by Nick Miller, managing director of member services and policy engagement, and Lindsey Short, managing director of advocacy and energy services, during a visit organized by the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council, which connects U.S. companies and leaders with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The Ohio stop included a visit to OMA member Bitdeer’s Massillon operations and conversations about digital infrastructure, investment and the opportunities created when global companies connect with Ohio communities and businesses.

“It was a real privilege to welcome leaders from across southeast Asia to Ohio and spend time sharing what makes this state such a special place to live, work and build,” Miller said. “Ohio’s greatest strength has always been its people, and opportunities like this give us a chance to create new friendships, deepen relationships and open doors to partnerships that can benefit communities here and around the world.” 8/19/2026

Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) member Foxconn plans to expand manufacturing and R&D capabilities in Ohio next year as demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure continues to grow.

The company is transforming its Lordstown operation into a manufacturing hub for AI components and server racks and said Ohio is among several states where it expects to build up capabilities in 2027. Foxconn will remain at the 6.2 million-square-foot former General Motors plant as a contract manufacturer supporting the site’s continued development.

“Foxconn’s plans in Lordstown are exactly the kind of investment Ohio should be winning,” said OMA President Ryan Augsburger. “This is advanced manufacturing, new technology and real production happening here in Ohio. That is a good story for the Mahoning Valley and for the state’s manufacturing economy.” 8/17/2026

Whirlpool Corporation Chairman and CEO Marc Bitzer will take the stage as a co-headliner of the 2026 Ohio Manufacturers’ Annual Forum on Thursday, Oct. 1, bringing the perspective of one of the country’s leading manufacturing executives to the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association’s (OMA) signature fall event.

Bitzer has led Whirlpool through a period of major transformation in global manufacturing. His keynote will offer a CEO-level view of the forces reshaping the industry, from competitiveness and investment to technology and the future of American manufacturing.

Bitzer will co-headline the program with NBC News and NBC Sports Chief Data Analyst Steve Kornacki, who will bring his signature data-driven analysis to the political landscape just weeks before Election Day.

The Annual Forum kicks off Manufacturing Month and brings together manufacturing executives, policy leaders and partners from across Ohio for leadership insights, policy analysis, networking and recognition of outstanding manufacturers. Register now to join OMA on Oct. 1 at the Grand Event Center in Columbus. 8/12/2026

Ohio’s rise to the top of CNBC’s 2026 ranking reflects something economic development leaders have understood for years. The state’s manufacturing base is a major competitive advantage.

In a new Columbus Dispatch column, Rick Platt, president and CEO of the Heath-Newark-Licking County Port Authority, points to Ohio’s deep industrial base, infrastructure, energy resources, market access and business climate as the advantages that keep the state on the short list for major investment. He also notes that site selectors increasingly expect Ohio to be part of the conversation when companies are deciding where to grow.

“Manufacturing is not simply part of Ohio’s success story. It is the reason Ohio leads,” Platt writes, echoing the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association’s response to CNBC naming Ohio the No. 1 state for business in 2026.

The message is straightforward. Ohio’s manufacturing strength helped build this advantage, and keeping it will depend on protecting the conditions that make companies want to invest, expand and hire here. 8/10/2026

Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) member PPG’s $280 million expansion in Delaware is officially moving from plan to construction. The coatings manufacturer has broken ground on a 100,000-square-foot expansion that will add 100 jobs to a site that already employs about 450 people.

The project will add advanced automation, digital manufacturing capabilities and more energy-efficient production as PPG increases automotive coatings capacity at the facility. Operations in the expanded space are expected to begin by 2028.

“This is what manufacturing growth looks like when it becomes real,” said Ryan Augsburger, president of the OMA. “It is new capacity, new technology on the factory floor and another 100 people building careers in Ohio. PPG’s continued investment in Delaware says a lot about the strength of manufacturing in this state.” 8/11/2026

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association’s Jessica Borza and Lindsey Short joined U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, acting U.S. Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling and northwest Ohio manufacturers Monday at Owens Community College to discuss the workforce challenge still limiting the industry’s growth.

The discussion centered on a persistent disconnect. Manufacturers have jobs, but too many people are still being steered toward education and training that do not connect directly to available careers. Participants focused on expanding apprenticeships and earn-and-learn programs, introducing students to manufacturing earlier and making the workforce system more responsive to the skills employers actually need.

“Sen. Husted understands that workforce policy has to begin with the jobs employers are actually trying to fill,” Short said. “The real test is whether people are gaining relevant skills, getting hired and building lasting careers in Ohio manufacturing.”

OMA continues to work with manufacturers, educators and regional partners to expand practical pathways into the industry and ensure workforce programs respond to actual employer demand. 8/4/2026