AGP Executive Report

Data Centers & Power Costs: Ohio environmental groups and activists urged PUCO to freeze electricity rate increases, arguing higher utility costs will hit residents hardest as data centers expand. Local Infrastructure: Crews broke ground in Grove City on a LinkUs-funded pedestrian bridge over I-71, adding wider walkways for bikes and pedestrians while traffic shifts during construction. Manufacturing Workforce: Youngstown State launched a Technician Fast Track registered apprenticeship for entry-level technicians, aiming to build CNC skills and career pathways with local manufacturers. Energy & Transportation: AAA reported Northeast Ohio gas prices up 7 cents to $4.218/gal, even as the national average keeps easing. Rare Earth Supply Chain: REalloys secured preferential access to Appalachian rare earth feedstock ahead of a 2027 defense deadline to reduce Chinese-origin magnet materials. Ohio Business & Retail: West Marine filed for Chapter 11 and plans to close 59 stores nationwide, including Ohio locations, as it restructures. Craft Spirits: Cleveland Whiskey acquired a majority interest in Sandusky’s SEEKERS bourbon to scale production and distribution. Housing Development: Athens Township’s proposed Avanelle Crossing LIHTC project heads to city review, with residents raising concerns ahead of planning and council approvals. Public Safety/Health: OSU researchers reported new findings on H5N1 bird flu transmission in dairy cattle, highlighting ongoing gaps in how outbreaks spread.

AI & Power Infrastructure: OpenAI is reportedly in advanced talks to lease a proposed 10-gigawatt data center campus on federal land in Ohio, with a possible Nvidia-backed plan and first phase targeted for 2028—raising the stakes for grid upgrades as demand surges. Workforce Development: Gov. DeWine and Lt. Gov. Tressel announced $5.07M for 22 Ohio Industry Sector Partnership grants to build talent pipelines in manufacturing, construction, skilled trades, IT, transportation, insurance, and healthcare. Energy & Permitting: The Ohio Supreme Court ruled an agrivoltaic solar farm must provide more visual-impact information before approval, tightening standards for how projects are presented to local communities. Local Water Projects: East Liverpool secured $2.2M in Ohio Development Authority loans for engineering and planning work to improve drinking and wastewater systems. Education Integrity: Ohio lawmakers advanced a Senate bill that would impose civil penalties on businesses that sell academic work to students, aiming to curb “contract cheating” while protecting legitimate tutoring. Prediction Markets Legal Fight: Ohio’s Kalshi dispute continues to draw national attention as New Mexico joins the CFTC court battle over whether sports event contracts are federally regulated commodities or state gambling. Storm Impacts: Northeast Ohio reported widespread outages after strong storms and winds snapped trees and damaged homes. Food & Retail: Downtown Columbus is seeing a fresh grocery push with new stores opening or planned, including a nonprofit grocery model in King-Lincoln Bronzeville. Business Earnings: Advanced Drainage Systems posted strong Q4 results and forecast growth for 2027, highlighting stormwater momentum and integration progress.

AI Data Centers & Power Grid: Ohio’s data-center push stays in the spotlight as lawmakers float limits while regulators weigh who pays for grid upgrades, and reports say OpenAI is in advanced talks for a massive 10-gigawatt Ohio campus on federal land. Environmental Permitting: Ohio EPA approved a wetland destruction permit for a hyperscale data center project in Scioto County, despite community opposition and concerns about water quality impacts. Rare Earth Supply Chain: REalloys secured preferential access to Appalachian rare-earth feedstock tied to a Pentagon deadline to reduce China-origin magnet materials. Food Safety: The FDA issued a Class I recall for Alfredo sauce in 41 states over possible Salmonella contamination from a dry milk ingredient. Weather & Utilities: Severe storms hit Northeast Ohio, leaving about 28,600 customers without power. Local Impact & Housing: Bexley officials say some apartments sit on a decades-old contaminated landfill, raising health and cleanup concerns. Transportation/Manufacturing: Honda and Acura issued a recall covering about 880,000 vehicles over rear suspension corrosion tied to road salt. Public Safety: One person died after a shooting on Columbus’ Far North Side.

Ohio Manufacturing & Automation: GROB Systems in Bluffton opened its doors for a community open house, showing off automated production systems used in electromobility, automotive, aerospace, and medical manufacturing, plus apprenticeship and shop-floor tours. State Economy & Agriculture: Ohio Dept. of Agriculture Director Brian Baldridge visited Lincoln Way Vineyards to spotlight Wine Month, citing the grape and wine industry’s $6.6B annual impact and 41,000 jobs. Rare Earth Supply Chain: REalloys secured preferential access to Appalachian rare earth feedstock ahead of a Pentagon deadline to reduce Chinese-origin materials in defense supply chains. Ohio Higher Ed: Ohio University trustees reviewed progress on its Dynamic Strategy plan, scholarship growth to $83M, and endowment milestones as it pushes to stay a perennial R1 institution. Public Health: CDC urged parents to stop using Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula after three infant botulism hospitalizations tied to the product, prompting a recall. Transportation & Construction: Cincinnati’s Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project is closing two Second Street exits permanently and one exit temporarily, with major overpass upgrades underway. Community Health: Grand Lake Health System held its fourth annual Children’s Wellness Day at the Auglaize County Fairgrounds with screenings, safety lessons, and family activities. Local Business: Westerville-based Cheryl’s Cookies founder Cheryl Krueger died at 74 after a Parkinson’s battle. Food Safety: FDA warned of a frozen snack recall tied to possible metal contamination. Energy Costs: AAA and EIA data show rising fuel costs squeezing travel-dependent businesses and workers in Ohio.

AI Data Centers in Ohio: OpenAI is reportedly in advanced talks to lease a proposed 10-gigawatt data center campus on federal land in Ohio, with Nvidia backing possible and a first phase targeted for 2028—an eye-popping scale that would demand major power, cooling, and water planning. Rare Earth Supply Chain: REalloys says it secured access to Appalachian rare earth feedstock via Patriot Exploration & Mining, aiming to shore up domestic magnet metals ahead of a 2027 Pentagon deadline to cut Chinese-origin materials. Manufacturing Expansion: AeroVironment will invest $15M to expand advanced production in Greene County near Dayton, adding pilot-scale and mid-volume capacity and about 200 jobs. Workforce Pipeline: Meta is rolling out “America’s Workforce Academy” with a $115M first-year push to train construction craft workers for AI data centers, including an Ohio host-city selection. Public Health Recall: The FDA warned of possible metal pieces in Farm Rich Pizza Cheese Crunchers, triggering a voluntary recall covering more than 160,000 pounds distributed in Ohio and 20+ states. Local Industry & Labor: ELLWOOD welcomed its largest intern class in company history, signaling continued hiring focus across manufacturing-linked engineering and business roles.

Data Centers & Power Demand: OpenAI is reportedly in advanced talks to lease a proposed 10-gigawatt data center campus on federal land in Ohio, with Nvidia backing possible and a first phase targeted for 2028—another sign Ohio’s grid and construction pipeline are being pulled into the AI boom. Rare Earth Supply Chain: REalloys says it secured access to Appalachian rare-earth feedstock ahead of a 2027 defense deadline to reduce Chinese-origin magnet materials, aiming to support U.S. supply for high-tech and defense uses. Local Industry Real Estate: Hillman Group will hold a June 16 groundbreaking for a new multipurpose facility in Forest Park, Ohio, consolidating Cincinnati-area operations at the former mall site. Public Safety & Utilities: Columbiana County emergency responders ran a FEMA drill for a radiological emergency at Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Station, meeting capability targets for the plant’s 10-mile planning zone. Education & Workforce: Ohio University trustees reviewed progress on its Dynamic Strategy plan, including scholarship growth and R1 status updates, as the university pushes long-term funding and talent goals. Community & Flood Recovery: One year after the 2025 Ohio County floods, cleanup and creek improvements continue, with ongoing debris-removal needs highlighted by local reporting.

Sports Betting Fight: Former SEC chair Gary Gensler says Kalshi is “flat wrong” that sports bets are swaps under federal rules, arguing the Dodd-Frank framework doesn’t apply and the fight could climb to the Supreme Court. Ohio Data Centers: Ohio’s first broad data center bill is stalled as House and Senate lawmakers clash over how much tax relief should be allowed, with DeWine’s earlier pause on exemptions still hanging over negotiations. Workforce Pipeline: Meta is rolling out a $115M “America’s Workforce Academy” to train construction craft workers for data center jobs, with Ohio among the 2026 launch states and guaranteed job offers for graduates. Food & Agriculture: Whispering Pine Bakery in New Concord issued a voluntary recall of milk-containing fry pies due to misbranding; Ohio also saw farm bankruptcies under Chapter 12 jump sharply as higher fuel and fertilizer costs squeeze crop farmers. Local Business: Penn Entertainment opened a new hotel tower at Hollywood Casino Columbus, adding 203 rooms and setting up more expansion later in 2026. Consumer Finance: Home equity lending activity is rising in the region as homeowners look to fund upgrades and consolidate debt amid steady rates.

Rare Earth Supply for Defense: REalloys secured preferential access to Appalachian rare earth feedstock tied to a Pentagon deadline to cut Chinese-origin magnet materials, targeting neodymium and other “magnet metals” needed for defense and high-tech. Autonomous Freight Push: PepsiCo and Gatik launched a driverless heavy-truck operation on a fixed U.S. corridor, signaling how AI is moving from trials to revenue routes. Ohio Data Center Tax Fight: Ohio Republicans backed off efforts to shrink a major sales-tax break for data centers after lawmakers learned the credit cost about $2B in 2025, leaving the policy fight unresolved. Skilled Trades Workforce: Google pledged more funding to train 300,000+ Americans for skilled trades, directly tying workforce needs to the AI data-center buildout. Local Industry & Facilities: H.E. Neumann pitched Ohio Valley school HVAC control in Ohio County with projected long-term savings, while Jefferson County put a spec building on hold pending more state support. Weather & Safety: Officials monitored storm impacts and lake levels as severe weather threatened the Midwest and East.

Ohio Workforce & Construction: ABC and Meta are rolling out a $115M America’s Workforce Academy to train data-center construction workers in Indiana, Louisiana, Ohio and Texas, with scholarships, safety training, hands-on craft education, and job offers on Meta projects. Healthcare Expansion: Cleveland Clinic will open a new 60,000-square-foot outpatient facility in Brecksville in late 2027, adding 108 exam rooms and more than 100 caregiver jobs at the Valor Acres development. Manufacturing & Defense Supply Chain: Anduril says it’s building its first weapons-manufacturing facility in Ohio and is open to a second hub outside the U.S., including allied nations in Europe, to scale predictable arms production. Logistics & Labor: Ohio is downgrading about 1,200 foreign-born commercial truck drivers’ CDLs after they failed new federal documentation rules, affecting who can legally drive commercial vehicles. Agriculture & Trade: Farm groups are pushing back after Trump questioned USMCA renewal, warning uncertainty could hurt U.S. farm exports to Canada and Mexico. Livestock & Rural Skills: OSU Extension is expanding beef cattle artificial insemination training to improve herd management and genetics, while OSU’s vet school uses rural mentorship to boost interest in large-animal practice. Local Economy: Ohio’s trucking sector reports steady demand but still feels fuel-price pressure, driver shortages and volatility, even as infrastructure and AI-related work supports some growth.

Data Centers & Property Rights: Ohio lawmakers clash over House Bill 646, with debate centered on cutting or keeping massive sales-tax exemptions for new data centers and adding rules on electricity and water costs; meanwhile, Ohio farmers warn a “deposit and build” style eminent domain change could let projects take land before full compensation. Local Energy & Utilities: Youngstown’s SOBE Thermal faces more disconnection notices, but Gov. Mike DeWine says neither the capital budget nor the rainy-day fund will bail out the private steam-heat provider. Electricity Costs: A bipartisan push, the Electricity Forecast Integrity Act, would force utilities to better justify long-term energy forecasts and infrastructure plans to prevent overbuilding costs from landing on ratepayers. Manufacturing Supply Chain: Ford’s aluminum supplier Novelis restarted its Oswego hot mill after last fall’s fires, easing pressure on F-Series production. Workforce & Tech: Meta’s $115M America’s Workforce Academy expands paid training and job guarantees for skilled trades tied to the AI data-center buildout. Ohio Economy Pulse: A FOX News poll finds Ohio voters’ top fall concern is inflation/high prices, and 65% oppose data center construction in their area.

Skilled Trades for AI Buildout: Meta is rolling out a $115 million “America’s Workforce Academy” with free training and job offers for data-center construction trades, including Ohio as a pilot city. Data Center Rules in Ohio: Ohio lawmakers are set to vote on HB 646, the state’s first data center rules, aiming to tighten sales tax breaks, set water-use standards, and require facilities to cover connection costs—while industry and neighbors both argue it doesn’t go far enough (or goes too far). Autonomous Freight in the Region: PepsiCo and Gatik announced a multi-year deployment of fully driverless heavy-duty trucks on a fixed U.S. corridor, signaling another step from testing to revenue routes. Specialty Insurance for Indoor Golf: Yardstick Golf and CoverMyNiche launched a purpose-built commercial insurance program for golf simulator businesses, covering exposures standard policies often miss. Consumer Protection Fallout: Ohio’s AG actions are part of a multistate GS Labs settlement totaling $4.87 million, tied to alleged overpriced and delayed COVID-19 testing. Inflation Politics: A new CPI spike to 4.2% helped fuel fresh political sparring after Trump said he “loves” inflation.

AI Infrastructure in Ohio: OpenAI is reportedly in talks to lease a massive 10-gigawatt data center site in Ohio, tied to Nvidia-backed funding, at the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Pike County—an effort that would signal a new phase for AI buildouts. Energy & Consumer Costs: Ohioans can choose competitive electricity suppliers, but the PUCO’s oversight and contract choices matter for bills and risk—especially when aggregation is involved. Public Health & Water: Ohio is receiving $201.7 million to reduce lead in drinking water by identifying and replacing lead service lines from curb to tap. Courts & Mental Health: The Ohio Supreme Court is weighing whether refusing an order for emergency hospitalization can amount to obstructing official business or resisting arrest. Local Development: Youngstown school officials are reviewing a long-term tax exemption request tied to redeveloping the former Mahoning Bank Building downtown. Manufacturing & Community: Worthington Steel’s Community Involvement Day highlighted local projects across northwest Ohio, including work at Henry County Humane Society and other sites. Transportation & Safety: Allen County received $2 million for road upgrades near a growing business hub, including access tied to major employers. Workforce Pipeline: Meta’s America’s Workforce Academy push continues to spotlight paid training and job placement for skilled trades tied to data center construction. Local Governance: Girard plans enforcement against rule-breaking electric bike and scooter riders, with age and helmet requirements in focus.

Meta Workforce Academy: Meta is investing $115M in “America’s Workforce Academy,” a free, paid, job-guaranteed trades program for data center construction techs, launching in Indiana, Ohio, Louisiana and Texas. Ohio Housing & Construction: Habitat for Humanity plans 31 income-qualified townhomes in Oxford, with the first phase starting this fall. Carbon Capture Law: Ohio lawmakers unanimously passed HB 170, creating a carbon capture and underground storage framework that lets companies inject CO2 under farmland and limits landowner recourse while shifting long-term liability to taxpayers. Business & Finance: Huntington says Texas acquisition synergies could drive up to $500M in cost savings by end of 2026; Grocery Outlet names new purchasing and CFO leadership. Workplace Safety: A West Central Ohio Safety Council session pushed CPR and AED training as a core emergency response step. Consumer/Health: FDA expanded a pet food recall tied to dangerously low thiamine levels. Local Business Growth: GSA Equipment in Barberton became an authorized dealer for Yellow Jacket mini skid loaders, adding diesel models for contractors and landscapers.

Skilled Trades Push: Meta is rolling out its $115M America’s Workforce Academy, offering free training and a guaranteed job for graduates in data-center construction trades like electrical, HVAC, welding, plumbing and fiber-optics, with Ohio named in the first pilot states (Louisiana, Ohio, Indiana, Texas). Energy & Power Rates: Ohio’s Supreme Court backed Duke Energy Ohio’s plan to raise natural gas distribution rates to cover about $29M tied to retiring underground propane storage caverns. Solar on Landfills: Mansfield is moving toward a 25–35 MW solar project over former landfill sites, but only if local buyers commit to purchase the power. Local Industry Support: Niles won a $402,500 ARC grant to expand electrical capacity for west-side industrial areas near BRT Extrusions, with officials stressing it’s not tied to data centers. Tariff Litigation: New tariff-refund class actions were filed against Ikea, Mondelez and Abercrombie & Fitch, alleging companies profited improperly after Trump-era tariffs. Construction Watch: East Palestine train depot renovation bids came in above the architect’s estimate, with the lowest bid at $889,546.

Biotech Funding: City Therapeutics banked $99.5M to advance RNAi drugs, including a Factor XI program now in Phase 1 for clot-related conditions. Ohio Policy & Food Access: USDA says Ohio is among states rolling out SNAP restrictions on items like soda/candy, tightening what benefits can buy. Manufacturing Layoffs: Dana Inc. plans to cut dozens at its Robinson, Illinois plant; the company is headquartered in Maumee, Ohio. Ohio Energy & Industry: JobsOhio-backed data shows Ohio’s shale sector drew about $2.9B in direct investment in early 2025, pushing cumulative investment near $117.5B since 2011. Broadband Buildout: Brightspeed says its Ohio fiber network is nearly 65% complete, with service now available to 350,000+ homes and businesses. Local Business Growth: Niles won a $402,500 ARC grant to expand BRT Extrusions and add electrical capacity for more production. Logistics & Trade: YSU selected 12 students for Ohio’s Export Internship Program, pairing them with Ohio firms on compliance, tariffs, and shipping. Corporate Legal: A class action was filed in the Southern District of Ohio against Medpace Holdings, with a lead plaintiff deadline of June 8.

Ohio Industrial Real Estate: North Jackson Commerce Park is moving from plans to tenants, with Huntington Bank support helping bring Shapes Unlimited into an 80,000-square-foot phase-one manufacturing and distribution building, and developers already lining up four more 100,000-square-foot buildings in divisible increments. Local Home Improvement: Window World Youngstown is hosting a Saturday open house for its new Design Center in Boardman, featuring product visualization for siding, gutters, energy-efficient windows and doors, plus a $5,000 exterior remodel giveaway. STEM & Workforce Pipeline: ESC of Eastern Ohio will run Camp Invention: Spark July 13-17 for third through fifth graders, using hands-on challenges in science, tech, engineering and math. Auto Supply Chain: Hanon Systems’ Carey, Ohio plant earned Ford’s top Q1 supplier quality certification, boosting its standing across Ford’s global network. Data Center Pushback: Ohio lawmakers heard big tech defend data centers amid public anger over power-grid impacts and tax breaks, with opponents pointing to nondisclosure deals and environmental concerns. Public Oversight: Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber’s office listed upcoming audits for June 9 covering multiple school districts, water and sewer entities, and other public bodies.