Build Central OH

05/28/2026

Local electricians are pre-fabricating parts that data centers need and shipping them all over the country, and union leaders say it’s breathing new life into the middle class. News4’s Drew Wilder tours one of the facilities.

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, the Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council honors the servicemen and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

The buildings we construct, the infrastructure we build and the communities we shape are all possible because of the freedoms that were defended and preserved by those who served. We do not take that for granted.

To the fallen heroes and their families — thank you. You will never be forgotten.
Wishing our entire trades community a safe and meaningful Memorial Day.

05/23/2026

Pat Hook, the business manager for the local International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union, said his union has also seen major increases. Prior to 2015, the electrical workers union averaged working about 1.8 million hours a year. Last year, they worked 6.6 million hours, and the majority of those hours were on data centers.

Hook said union members are also working on existing data centers to upgrade and maintain the electrical system because servers and equipment need replaced every few years.

"The building trade members will continue to work in these data centers as long as they're operational," he said. "We will probably need more hours worked by the building trades members than potentially by the actual operator of the data center themselves."

Ohio's data center boom brings trades jobs but also environmental concerns. Some experts say the state needs more regulation.

05/23/2026

05/23/2026

Dorsey Hager, the executive secretary-treasurer for the Columbus/Central Ohio Building Trades Council, said 10 years ago the Columbus building tradespeople were working about 4 million manhours per year. In 2023, that was up to 9.8 million manhours – the most they had ever worked in a single year. In 2026, he said they will easily eclipse 20 million work hours – doubling the amount of work hours in less than three years.

He said about 40% of those hours are spent working on data centers, and 93% of hours worked on data centers specifically is done by union members.

Ohio's data center boom brings trades jobs but also environmental concerns. Some experts say the state needs more regulation.

05/21/2026

I'm proudly in this fight for the hardworking men and women of Ohio.

Honored to receive the endorsement of the Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council!

05/10/2026

Happy Mother's Day from the Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council!

The skilled trades are built on hard work, dedication and family — and nowhere is that more evident than in the strength of the mothers connected to our trades community. Whether you're a mom working in the trades, raising the next generation of skilled workers or holding down the home front while your family builds this region, we salute you.

Thank you for the sacrifices you make and the love you pour into everything you do. Wishing all mothers a peaceful and joyful Mother's Day!

05/08/2026

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and the Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council wants to have an honest conversation with our affiliated members.

Working in construction is tough. The physical demands are real, but so are the mental and emotional ones. Stress, isolation, financial pressure and the physical demands of the job can take a toll that doesn't always show on the outside.

We want every affiliated member to know your mental health matters just as much as your hard hat. There is no shame in struggling, and there is strength in reaching out.

Check in on your crew. Talk to someone you trust. If you need support, call or text 988 to reach the Su***de and Crisis Lifeline — free, confidential and available 24/7.

05/08/2026

Forget coding — the real tech jackpot comes with a hard hat and a six-figure paycheck.

05/07/2026

"Right now, data center construction is sustaining local economies across the state through thousands of construction jobs and new apprenticeships. These jobs provide families with high pay, healthcare and retirement benefits through the years-long construction and maintenance cycles of data centers." Ohio State Building & Construction Trades Council Executive Secretary-Treasurer Mark Douglas during today's Ohio Chamber of Commerce post-primary forum on "The Politics of Data Centers: Growth, Concerns, and Ohio’s Path Forward"

05/05/2026

Throughout this campaign, I’ve proudly earned the trust and support of a broad coalition of labor, progressive, and civic groups dedicated to strengthening voting rights and our democracy, as well as endorsements from major editorial boards and more than a hundred local, county, and state leaders. Tomorrow, I’d be honored to have your vote.🗳️