The Ohio Manufacturers' Association

04/28/2026

Modern manufacturing is not your grandfather’s factory floor.

Today in Newark, OMA joined COSI - Center of Science and Industry, The Boeing Company, students, educators and community leaders for a hands-on event focused on the future of workforce development.

Students got a closer look at the technology, problem-solving and career paths powering today’s manufacturing economy, from engineering and robotics to skilled trades and advanced production.

Ohio’s next generation of talent is already in the classroom. Our job is to open the door, challenge outdated perceptions and connect more young people to the careers waiting for them right here at home.

04/28/2026

A promise that “other customers won’t pay” should never be the end of the conversation.

AEP Ohio is proposing a 50-mile transmission line across Pike, Jackson and Gallia counties to serve a planned data center campus in Piketon. AEP says the data center customer will pay for the project and that other Ohio customers’ rates are not expected to be affected.

That deserves scrutiny.

With utilities planning an estimated $1.4 trillion in grid investments nationwide by 2030, every major transmission project should come with clear answers:

Who pays?
Who benefits?
What protects other customers if costs rise later?

Manufacturers and families should not be left guessing before major infrastructure costs are locked in.

04/24/2026

AEP’s CEO made $36.6 million last year, more than the CEOs of Duke, FirstEnergy and AES combined.

At the same time, Ohio families and manufacturers continue dealing with rising electric bills. Many people ask the same question: if customers are paying more, why do monopoly utilities keep getting rewarded?

Ohio’s current model often rewards spending and expansion, while customers carry the risk. That is why transparency and accountability matter.

What do you think should change?

A watchdog organization that’s critical of investor-owned utilities noticed a trend as electricity rates increased: so did electric companies’ CEO pay.

04/23/2026

Yesterday’s data center debate at the Columbus Metropolitan Club underscored a point OMA has been making for months: the biggest threat to affordable, reliable power is not data centers alone, but a system that gives utilities every incentive to overforecast future demand and build more infrastructure at customer expense.

OMA President Ryan Augsburger made the case that data centers are part of a global technology race, and that trying to shut the door on new development will not stop demand. It will only send jobs, investment and innovation somewhere else.

The more urgent issue is whether Ohio has the right safeguards in place when utilities make major forecasting claims that can drive costly decisions for manufacturers and other ratepayers. OMA’s focus remains on greater transparency, stronger accountability and policies that protect customers from inflated forecasts while keeping Ohio competitive. Watch the full discussion below.

3 likes. "Ohio's Data Center Debate"

04/22/2026

Manufacturing is often cast as the environmental villain. Ohio’s track record tells a different story.

For decades, Ohio manufacturers have been cutting emissions while continuing to power the state’s economy. Since 1980, emissions from manufacturing facilities have dropped dramatically across key pollutants thanks to innovation, investment and better technology.

That progress does not always make headlines, but it is real and it is happening every day on factory floors across Ohio.

Cleaner air. Real progress.

04/21/2026

Ryan Augsburger, president of the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association, recently spoke with WSYX-TV reporter Mike McCarthy about AEP Ohio’s proposed data center tariff and the growing debate over how massive new electricity demand should be planned and paid for.

At the center of the discussion is a simple question: when utilities forecast large new loads and propose major infrastructure investments, who bears the financial risk if those projections don’t materialize?

Utilities earn regulated returns on the capital they invest in infrastructure, which makes the accuracy of those forecasts especially important.

“Ohio cannot afford to let speculative growth claims drive costly decisions that leave existing customers exposed,” Augsburger said.

The story is expected to air on WSYX-TV in Columbus in mid-May 2026.

11/06/2025

Be among the first to hear it: Ohio manufacturers are stepping up to solve the technician shortage in a bold new way.

This afternoon’s powerful panel spotlighted a scalable, earn-and-learn technician training model – designed by manufacturers, for manufacturers.

✅ Built in collaboration with OMA, Accenture and the Ohio Manufacturing Talent Partnership
✅ Grounded in employer needs
✅ Built to expand opportunities for Ohioans
✅ Aimed at solving one of the biggest talent gaps in the industry

This isn’t theory. It’s Ohio’s next workforce advantage, and it’s happening now.

Planning for the next Summit will start happening before we know it. If you missed us this year, we certainly hope you’ll join us next time!

11/06/2025

A rousing ovation for Lt. Governor Jim Tressel who just took the Summit stage with a challenge and plenty of inspiring words for Ohio’s manufacturing workforce.

His keynote marked the launch of the Ohio Manufacturing Workforce Blueprint, urging leaders across industry, education and government to work as one.

Workforce transformation doesn’t happen by chance. It’s forged with intent. Check out the Blueprint at OhioMTP.com.

11/06/2025

Breakouts are underway at the 2025 Ohio Manufacturers' Workforce Summit, and each room is diving deep into some of the most pressing workforce issues manufacturers are facing today.

Here’s what’s happening now:

🔹 Sparking Interest – Effective, scalable strategies to engage K-12 students in manufacturing
🔹 Overcoming Barriers – Career pathways that unlock employee growth and retention
🔹 Seamless Growth – How common competencies can guide operator-to-technician career mobility
🔹 Amplifying Outreach – Modern recruitment strategies to inspire the next generation of talent

If you’re a workforce professional and you’re not here, consider this your sign to register early when the next Summit comes around.

11/06/2025

The 2025 Ohio Manufacturers' Workforce Summit is officially underway and we’re opening with a powerful keynote from Todd McLees, founder of Humanskills.ai.

His message is clear: In manufacturing, AI agility is the new competitive edge.

✅ Cut waste
✅ Speed up decision-making
✅ Train your teams to work with AI, not against it

Insightful, practical and urgent. This session is lighting the fuse for a day of action.

We’ve got a packed agenda of priority workforce issues to tackle today.