AGP Executive Report

Courts & Immigration: Five retired Ohio judges and justices filed an amicus brief backing a Franklin County ban on ICE courthouse arrests, arguing the practice chills immigrant participation and disrupts court operations. Energy & Cost Relief: Ohio lawmakers and Gov. Mike DeWine signed a 90-day gas tax suspension, with the state covering revenue losses from budget surpluses—aimed at easing pump costs for drivers, schools, and diesel-heavy businesses. Utilities & Winter Readiness: PUCO issued a Special Reconnect Order for the 2026-27 heating season (Oct. 12-Apr. 16), capping reconnection costs for PUCO-regulated electric and natural gas customers; last winter, more than 227,637 Ohioans used it. Public Health & Consumer Safety: The Trump administration began sending nearly 1 million HealthCare.gov enrollees $500 refunds, while officials warn about copycat scams. Infrastructure: Granite-Super won a $324.8M contract for Cleveland’s Big Creek Tunnel under Project Clean Lake, targeting major reductions in combined sewer overflows. Ohio Construction Traffic: ODOT announced month-long lane cuts near Easton on I-270/Easton Way for interchange improvements, with work expected to finish in summer 2027. Drug Pricing Accountability: Ohio AG Raoul sought court approval for a $400M Nationwide settlement with Sandoz over alleged generic drug price-fixing and reduced competition. Workforce & Industry: Ohio Manufacturing Month events highlight the state’s skilled-trades pipeline as manufacturers push for new operators and technicians.

Gas Tax Relief: Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 519 to suspend Ohio’s 38.5-cent gas tax and 47-cent diesel tax for 90 days, effective immediately after passage as lawmakers and candidates argue over how much drivers will actually save. Utility Hardship: Dollar Energy Fund opened its 2026–2027 hardship program, offering grants to help income-eligible Ohio households facing utility shutoffs keep gas, electric, water, or wastewater service. Manufacturing Watch: Springfield still hasn’t heard from the new owner of International Motors’ former plants, leaving workers and local officials waiting on future plans. Agritourism & Farming: Farm Credit Mid-America released an updated free agritourism directory covering Ohio and four other states, highlighting farm tours and seasonal experiences. Consumer Safety: Container One CEO Glenn Taylor warned buyers nationwide to verify sellers to avoid shipping container scams after a BBB-facilitated discussion in Ohio. Workforce & Wages: Ohio’s minimum wage is set to rise 3.5% in 2027, reaching $11.40 an hour.

Energy & Infrastructure: Trump says South Korea will invest up to $54B in an Alaska LNG project, while also backing Texas power and eight nuclear plants—though Seoul says Alaska’s deal still needs review. Ohio Transportation: ODOT and the Ohio Turnpike Commission released the final U.S. 23/I-71 connector feasibility report, outlining an 18.2-mile route, major cost estimates near $1.1B, and impacts to homes, wetlands and forest. Workforce & Economic Development: Gov. DeWine announced five Ohio projects approved by the Tax Credit Authority, targeting 1,173 jobs and $431M+ in investment. Ohio Housing: Youngstown-Warren leaders held a Valley Housing Summit focused on boosting supply and keeping workers living locally. Ohio Energy Costs: Lawmakers passed a 90-day gas and diesel tax pause, aiming to cut pump prices as debates continue. Healthcare & Compliance: Ohio’s minimum wage rises to $11.40 (non-tipped) and $5.70 (tipped) on Jan. 1, 2027, with a higher business threshold. Public Health: Ohio Water Development Authority approved $2.9M in low-interest loans for wastewater and drinking-water upgrades. Data Centers & Policy: Senate Democrats blocked a data-center electricity cost bill, arguing it lacks strong protections for ratepayers.

AI + Data Centers in Ohio: OpenAI and SoftBank’s SB Energy met with southeastern Ohio officials and trades contractors tied to the planned Ports-Pike 10-gigawatt AI data center, while also announcing a $6 million childcare investment as part of broader local community commitments. Manufacturing + Solar Supply Chain: Eureka Energy and Türkiye’s GAP Grup announced a North American partnership to represent GAP’s aluminum, fabricated metal, and solar infrastructure products in the U.S., with an eye toward longer-term manufacturing in Appalachia. Advanced Manufacturing Education: America Makes is bringing “3D Printing for Drones” hands-on design-and-build experiences to high school students, including a Youngstown-area event at the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center on Oct. 2. Port + Logistics: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will begin dredging Toledo Harbor’s federal navigation channels starting Oct. 2 under an $11.1 million, two-year contract aimed at keeping Great Lakes shipping moving. Workforce + Wages: Ohio’s minimum wage will rise Jan. 1, 2027, to $11.40 for nontipped workers and $5.70 for tipped employees, with a higher employer threshold. Food Safety: FDA assigned the highest risk level to a Salata Salad Kitchen jalapeño avocado dressing recall in three states due to possible Salmonella contamination.

AI & Data Centers: A new wave of AI-driven data centers is stressing power grids and water supplies, with environmental impact hinging on electricity demand, power sources, and how fast projects come online. Manufacturing Workforce: Ohio’s manufacturing leaders are pushing for clearer career paths and better workplace cultures so workers can grow long-term, not just get hired. Industrial Real Estate: Developers broke ground on the Youngstown Technology Park, a 200,000-square-foot light/advanced manufacturing hub backed by the city and JobsOhio. Energy & Costs: Ohio lawmakers are weighing a 90-day gas tax suspension as fuel prices stay high, while retailers and local officials debate who pays and how highway funding is protected. Steel & Trade: Cleveland-Cliffs’ Stelco layoffs in Ontario drew backlash from Canadian PM Mark Carney, tying job cuts to U.S. tariff pressure. Capital Markets: Miamisburg-based Accelevation priced an IPO to fund AI data center infrastructure growth, signaling investor selectivity in the sector. Public Safety/Infrastructure: Toledo is planning how to spend remaining ARPA funds before year-end, with council members asking for more detail.

AI & Government: Trump unveiled a new AI tool he says will make federal information easier to access, while again dismissing calls for AI safeguards. Ohio Cannabis Insurance: Rep. Warren Davidson backed the CLAIM Act, endorsed by major insurer groups, aiming to reduce federal penalties for insurers covering state-legal marijuana businesses in Ohio and Michigan. Trade & Supply Chain: Gene Mack International earned Customs CTPAT certification as trade rules tighten. Manufacturing/Construction Materials: Cement shipments were flat in May, with Ohio among top consuming states. Agriculture: Washington County farms will get aerial cover-crop seeding (rye, oats, radishes, turnips). Energy & Fuel Prices: GasBuddy reports show E85 and premium gas price swings across Ohio counties, with diesel and ethanol markets still volatile. Logistics: A bulk freight squeeze is pushing lead times to 7–10 days as capacity stays disciplined. Ohio Policy/Infrastructure: Rep. Marcy Kaptur introduced bills to speed dredged-material partnerships and study Maumee River flood-risk improvements. Business Real Estate: CoStar ranks Cleveland among top big-box logistics performers. Local Impacts: Dayton Mall’s new owner is rolling out a staged renovation through 2027.

Grid Modernization: Ohio is set to receive a $273M federal grant to modernize its electric grid, with $137M aimed at boosting transmission capacity and avoiding new plants/lines. Manufacturing & Jobs: The Ohio Tax Credit Authority approved an 8-year Job Creation Tax Credit for Polyethics Industries/EcoPoly in Antwerp, targeting 250 new jobs and $12M in annual payroll by 2030. Food Safety: Nearly 2M pounds of brown and powdered sugar were recalled across eight states, including Ohio, due to possible wheat-kernel contamination. Energy Policy: Lawmakers are preparing a 90-day Ohio gas tax suspension proposal, with funding coming from general revenue and requirements that stations pass savings to customers. Data Centers & Power Costs: A Senate push for a “Ratepayer Protection” approach is heating up as Big Tech, unions, and private equity back standards to prevent data-center moratoriums. Transportation: Toledo will host a national passenger rail conference Oct. 2-4, focusing on Midwest corridor growth and economic returns. Legal/Consumer: Ohio’s Supreme Court says capital-case public defenders will get higher hourly rates. Local Government: Defiance commissioners opened bids for a Sherwood downtown demolition and discussed wastewater fixes near the airport.

Ohio Manufacturing & Workforce: Ohio State President argues for a manufacturing renaissance and highlights OSU’s role in the Trump-backed “Foundry School” advanced manufacturing push. Packaging & Supply Chain: Adherex Group is buying North Canton’s Polymer Packaging to expand flexible, bakery, and protective packaging plus custom manufacturing. Defense Manufacturing: Metallus won a five-year, up-to-$995M Defense Logistics Agency contract for HF-1 steel used in 155mm artillery ammunition bodies, with Canton equipment aimed at high monthly output. AI Data Centers & Power: A Rust Belt “powerhouse” groundbreak signals continued AI campus buildout along the Ohio River, while Ohio policy debates keep circling data-center electricity costs and incentives. Energy Costs & Policy: Ohio lawmakers consider a 90-day gas tax suspension to cut prices, as AAA reports regular around $4.34 and diesel about $6.75. Local Infrastructure: Akron’s old Route 8 bridge demolition is complete; the northbound span is slated to start construction in 2027. Food Safety: Berlin Seeds of Millersburg recalls 950 pounds of alfalfa sprouting seed tied to an E. coli/Salmonella outbreak, sold in 44 states. Business Real Estate: Warren’s West Warren Industrial Park could get a $1.3M roadwork grant to widen access for light industrial, distribution, and advanced manufacturing.

Data Centers & Power Costs: Ohio Sen. Jon Husted’s Ratepayer Protection Act would require large electricity users like data centers to pay for the grid upgrades they trigger, aiming to stop families and small businesses from footing the bill. Local Infrastructure: ODOT says northbound I-75 reopened ahead of schedule after beam work on the Linn Street Replacement and Reconstruction project, with southbound lanes still closed overnight. Manufacturing Jobs: U.S. Paper Mill plans to restart paper production at its Chillicothe site by December, hiring up to 350 and prioritizing former mill workers. Energy Prices Watch: GasBuddy reports show diesel and gasoline bargains in multiple Ohio counties for the week ending Sept. 19, with Richland County’s lowest diesel at $5.59 and Muskingum County’s lowest midgrade at $4.33. Supply Chain/Industry: Prysmian and Rio Tinto are supplying low-carbon aluminum electrical cables for an Amazon data center in Ohio, using inert-anode smelting to cut emissions from aluminum production. Food Safety: FDA recalls nearly 1.7 million pounds of brown and powdered sugar in Ohio and seven other states due to undeclared wheat kernels.

Agriculture Investment: McCarty Family Farms and MVP Dairy, with Cargill, opened new dairy nutrition learning exhibits in Kansas and Celina, Ohio—aimed at boosting hands-on understanding of animal nutrition and milk quality. Semiconductor & Trade: Chip investors appear to be pricing a more lasting split between Chinese demand and global supply chains, easing how much Beijing headlines swing semiconductor stocks. Energy Prices (Ohio): GasBuddy reported multiple county-level lows for the week ending Sept. 19, including regular at $3.95 in Ashland County and $4.08 in Harrison County, plus diesel at $5.69 in Putnam County. EV Policy Shift: Trump moved to terminate Biden-era EV mandates and replace them with new fuel economy standards, promising lower vehicle prices and more auto investment. Data Centers & Power: New scrutiny is hitting data-center expansion plans as electricity demand from AI grows fast, with investors now more cautious about IPOs and valuations tied to the buildout. Transportation Safety: A semi-truck driver was found guilty on all charges in a nine-vehicle I-71 crash that killed a Dublin family; sentencing is set for Oct. 29. Local Solar: Monroeville added a floating solar array on its reservoir, feeding power from 9,222 panels and expanding Ohio’s solar footprint without more cropland.

Fuel Economy & Auto Policy: President Trump says he approved new fuel economy standards that end the Biden-era EV mandate, promising lower prices and more auto jobs in states including Ohio. Electric Bills & Utility Branding: AEP Ohio will operate as Ohio Power Company starting Oct. 1, rolling out a redesigned monthly bill aimed at clearer breakdowns of generation, transmission and distribution costs. Data Centers in the Spotlight: Gov. DeWine pauses new Ohio tax exemptions for data centers amid rising power-cost concerns, while the issue remains a major theme in the Ohio Senate race. Energy Markets at the Pump: GasBuddy price reports for the week ending Sept. 19 show localized lows across Ohio, including E85 at $3.14 in Greene County and diesel at $5.79 in Columbiana County. Food Safety Recall: FDA recall coverage flags nearly 1.7 million pounds of sugar recalled across eight states due to an undeclared allergen. Ohio Workforce & Training: SOCCo backs STEM equipment for Oak Hill Schools with a $1,000 grant, supporting hands-on science and water-quality testing. Housing Repairs: Southeast Ohio gets a $300,000 grant for essential home repairs and accessibility upgrades for low-income homeowners in Hocking, Athens and Perry counties. Legal/Regulatory Watch: A federal appeals court ruling lets Ohio and Tennessee regulate Kalshi’s sports prediction markets under state gambling laws. Industry Immigration Snapshot: Ohio employers in “Other Services” filed 72 H-1B petitions in 2025, with a 98.6% approval rate.

Fuel Watch: GasBuddy’s weekly reports show some of the lowest prices in Ohio’s counties: Ross County E15 hit $3.99, Cuyahoga County E15 fell to $3.89, Miami County regular reached $3.78, and Stark County E15 dipped to $3.32, while diesel stayed higher (Medina diesel $5.57; Summit diesel $5.69). Policy & Politics: A 6th Circuit ruling keeps pressure on Kalshi’s sports prediction markets, with the dispute now raising the odds the U.S. Supreme Court weighs in on how states can regulate. Workforce & Education: University of Dayton is using NSSE engagement data over time to spot strengths and gaps across colleges and departments. Local Economy/Community: Ohio’s JobsOhio gifts to Sen. Jon Husted are back in focus after new ethics disclosures, renewing questions about the quasi-private agency’s influence. Tourism: Explore Hocking Hills joins an international Destination Think group ahead of World Tourism Day.

Energy & Infrastructure: Ohio lawmakers weigh a 90-day gas tax suspension that could cut fuel costs but may also drain local road and bridge budgets, with Lucas County alone estimating $5M–$6M a year at stake. Data Centers & Power: AEP Ohio is set to operate as Ohio Power Co. and launch a billing format change, while Ohio’s Senate battle over who pays for grid upgrades and data center power costs keeps heating up. Public Safety & Transportation: ODOT says new roundabouts in northwest Ohio are driving major drops in fatal and injury crashes, including reported 75%–85% reductions at specific intersections. Manufacturing & Jobs: Construction begins on Broadway Commons in Lorain, a $22M supportive housing project aimed at spurring downtown redevelopment. Agriculture: Diesel prices are squeezing Ohio farmers and truckers, with one Athens-area operator citing steep per-gallon jumps that raise operating costs. Consumer & Health: Ohio AG Andy Wilson says consumers can file for money back on certain generic drugs after antitrust settlements, with a $96.5M fund approved for distribution. Legal/Markets: A federal appeals court ruled against Kalshi, saying Ohio and Tennessee can regulate prediction markets under state gambling laws. STEM Education: Hilltop High School in Ohio won the Governor’s Thomas Edison Award for Excellence in STEM Education and Student Research. Shipping: Great Lakes Towing ordered two new tugboats for delivery in late 2027/early 2028, expanding its fleet renewal program.

Ohio Energy & Fuel Prices: GasBuddy data shows Hamilton County’s lowest premium gas at $4.25/gal (week ending Sept. 19), while Portage County’s lowest midgrade hit $4.49/gal and Lorain County’s lowest diesel was $5.67/gal—another reminder that Ohio pump prices are still moving fast. AI & Data Centers: Oracle’s force majeure notice tied to its Project Jupiter in New Mexico sparked market jitters and renewed questions about whether the AI data-center buildout can deliver power on schedule; Reuters also notes IPO plans are getting tougher as delays ripple through the sector. Healthcare & Consumer Costs: Ohioans may qualify for payouts from a $96.5M multistate settlement over inflated generic drug prices; Attorney General Andy Wilson says claims are open via AGGenericDrugs.com. Local Development: JobsOhio’s Vibrant Communities grant will fund a $4.6M revitalization of Niles’ historic Masonic Lodge, creating a new HQ for Cadence Care Network and targeting 180 jobs. Workforce & Training: OHCON 2026 (Sept. 29–30) is pushing public-safety drone training, with the pre-course Program Managers class already sold out. Manufacturing Watch: Reports say Honda is nearing a $2.5B hybrid vehicle plant deal in Ohio, keeping the state in the auto investment race.

Transportation & Construction: ODOT will fully close I-75 through Cincinnati both directions from 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 to 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 28 for steel girder work on the $46.7M Linn Street Bridge project, with ramp closures starting at 9 p.m. and a separate U.S. 50 ramp shutdown Sunday for about four months. Energy Infrastructure: Ohio is set to receive a $273M DOE grant under the SPARK initiative to upgrade electric transmission capacity, including $137M routed through PUCO for advanced grid tech. Utility Branding: AEP Ohio will rebrand as the Ohio Power Company starting Oct. 1, with new billing and communications but no rate or service changes. Fuel Costs & Policy: A 90-day Ohio gas tax suspension is estimated to cost about $700M, raising questions about how lawmakers would replace road funding. National Security/Auto Tech: Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno and Sen. Elissa Slotkin push a permanent ban on Chinese connected vehicles and components, seeking final Senate/House action. Local Energy Prices: GasBuddy reports show pockets of lower prices across Ohio counties, including regular gas lows like $3.58 in Butler County and $3.79 in Hardin County, while propane prices in northwest Ohio are up about 10% year over year. Industry & Jobs: A bipartisan federal film tax credit bill would offer a 20% credit on qualifying U.S. labor, with bonuses up to 30% for rural or disaster-area productions. Agriculture: The September hogs and pigs report points to tighter supplies, with total inventories down 2% year over year.

Space & Defense: Gov. Mike DeWine is pushing an effort to bring the U.S. Space Academy to Ohio, citing Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, NASA Glenn, and a new 11-person team to prepare the federal application. Local Energy Policy: Logan City Council heard from SOPEC about its “Charging Smart” push to streamline zoning and permitting for solar and EV charging, plus a proposed station at Aqueduct Park that sparked debate over downtown business impact. Fuel Watch (Ohio): GasBuddy reports the lowest Montgomery County regular gas at $3.49/gal (week ending Sept. 19) and the lowest midgrade at $3.89/gal; Trumbull County’s lowest regular hit $3.99/gal. Construction Tech: Trayd launched Trayd Accounting to bring construction job profitability into the same platform contractors use for payroll and workforce management. Manufacturing & Autos: GM rolled out its updated 2027 heavy-duty lineup, including an in-house 8.3L Duramax diesel, while Westlake Royal expanded its BlueLinx distribution deal for Kleer PVC trim and TruExterior siding. Workforce & Skills: Google announced a partnership with veterans groups to help 25,000 enter skilled trades amid ongoing labor shortages.