In an interview with IndustryWeek during the National Association of Manufacturers’ State of Manufacturing stop in Cleveland, Ohio Manufacturers’ Association President Ryan Augsburger pointed to rising electricity prices as a growing concern for manufacturers. He noted that companies have seen significant spikes without clear offsetting customer benefits. Augsburger said energy and electricity regulation are largely handled at the state level and emphasized the importance of understanding the factors driving recent cost increases.

“Manufacturers are being asked to absorb rising electricity costs based on forecasts that deserve closer scrutiny,” he said. “When prices rise faster than expected and customers are not seeing clear benefits, it raises serious questions about the assumptions driving Ohio’s energy decisions.”

The IndustryWeek story also highlighted workforce development challenges, including uncertainty surrounding federal funding for Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) programs. Augsburger warned that several MEP organizations in Ohio have already closed and said the longer programs remain shuttered, the harder it may be to restart them.

His comments were featured alongside broader national discussions about permitting reform, immigration policy and manufacturing competitiveness discussed during the event. 2/25/2026