The Big Seven event brings state officials to Lima

Sept. 27 – LIMA – The critical importance of Ohio’s workforce and the impact of federal regulations were key topics Friday at the third annual Big 7 Regional Thought Roundtable Luncheon. The event, hosted by the Lima/Allen Chamber of Commerce, brought together seven Department of State directors and local business leaders to discuss economic issues facing the region and state.

A packed room at Mercy Health-St. The Rita Center for Graduate Education listened closely as executives from various state organizations shared insights on inflation projections, demographic trends, job retention strategies and the challenges of attracting talent to Ohio.

“There are more jobs available than workers,” said Lorraine Terry, vice president of beverage systems at JobsOhio, highlighting the state’s labor shortage. This sentiment was echoed in the discussions, with several speakers emphasizing the urgent need to address the imbalance.

James Lee, director of public policy for the Ohio Manufacturers Association, shared OMA’s success story, discussing the career advancement program that led to a 22% increase in wages and higher job retention rates among participants, tying the success and placing an emphasis on local collaboration and sharing with society the importance of creating and retaining jobs in the manufacturing sector.

A recurring theme was the impending labor crisis. Rick Carfagna of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce expressed concern about the state’s ability to meet future labor demands. “We don’t have enough population to keep up with the demand for work. With thousands of new jobs on the horizon, we need to focus on the best ways to attract talent here,” he said. He also left attendees with questions about how Ohio can appeal to outsiders as a career destination.

When it comes to inflation, Alex Boehnke of the Ohio Retail Council provided optimistic forecasts.

“Retailers are price takers, not price makers,” he said. “While retail margins remain flat, fortunately we see trends moving in the right direction.”

Other speakers noted that inflation is hitting businesses, both large and small, hard.

The discussion has become more controversial when it comes to regulations, especially those at the federal level.

Rick Carfagna, Ohio Chamber of Commerce vice president of government affairs, noted that Ohio ranks sixth in the nation for regulation, while Lee expressed serious concerns about federal regulation, especially in the environmental sector.

“We face many USEPA regulations that are unnecessary and cost manufacturers billions of dollars,” Lee said.

Lee also stressed the need for a sustainable approach that protects the environment without stifling economic growth. Lee also noted that the Biden administration has spent more money on environmental regulations in four years than the Obama administration did in eight years.

Brad Bales, senior director of state and national policy at the Ohio Farm Bureau, echoed those sentiments, citing the recent meat and poultry farming regulation as an example of regulatory overreach.

“They want farmers to design and build waste treatment facilities on their property, at an estimated cost of about $1 million,” he said.

Other directors at the meeting included Cameron Garczyk, deputy state director of the Ohio National Federation of Independent Business, and Kristen Frissora, executive vice president of the Ohio Business Roundtable.

Call Cade Higgins at 567-242-0351

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