AGP Executive Report

Business Expansion: Columbus-based Moo Moo Express opened its 150th car wash, while All State Fastener is expanding its heavy-truck distribution operations with a new central Ohio center. Data Center Debate: Ohio’s AI boom faces growing pushback: a study estimates data centers could add $16 billion to electricity costs, and Cleveland City Council is moving to extend its pause on new facilities through Jan. 29, 2027. Jobs and Investment: Kroger plans to cut 3,000 corporate jobs over three years as it expands AI use. Bayer, meanwhile, is investing $2.2 billion in a pharmaceutical manufacturing site in central Ohio. Downtown Development: Mason has broken ground on the first construction project in its downtown revitalization effort, expanding parking and creating space for events.

Airport Investment: Cleveland Hopkins advanced its $1.6 billion modernization, briefing nearly 800 industry partners on upcoming construction and procurement opportunities. Data Center Costs: A new analysis warns Ohio data centers could add $16 billion to electricity costs, fueling calls for regulation as grid reliability concerns grow. Workforce: Cincinnati-based Kroger plans to cut 3,000 corporate jobs over three years as it expands AI use. Manufacturing: Urbana’s Ultra-Met has been acquired by Hyperion Materials & Technologies, expanding Ohio production of tungsten-carbide components for aerospace and defense. Major Project: Bayer selected central Ohio for a planned $2.2 billion pharmaceutical manufacturing facility.

Workforce: Cincinnati-based Kroger plans to eliminate 3,000 corporate jobs over three years as it expands its use of AI, a major shift for one of Ohio’s largest employers. Energy Costs: A new study warns that data centers could add $16 billion to Ohio electricity costs, as opposition to the facilities grows and an emergency grid order allows extra power generation across the state and other parts of PJM through Oct. 16. State Finances: Ohio tax revenue topped projections by more than $200 million. Investment: Bayer plans a $2.2 billion pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Central Ohio, while Cleveland was selected for a new U.S. Navy submarine-component repair center. Retail and Transport: United Dairy Farmers will install its first high-speed EV chargers at six Ohio locations.

Workforce: Cincinnati-based Kroger plans to cut 3,000 corporate jobs over three years as it restructures and expands its use of AI. The company has about 8,200 corporate roles. Data Centers: Ohio voters face 20 local ballot measures on data centers across 17 jurisdictions this November, making the facilities’ power, water and community impacts a major statewide issue. Industrial Investment: Companies have $290 million in projects planned for Monroe and Middletown, with more than 150 jobs expected. Bayer has also selected central Ohio for a $2.2 billion pharmaceutical manufacturing facility. Manufacturing: A historic Ohio truck plant has closed, leaving 1,341 workers without jobs and no announced reopening date.

Manufacturing: Bayer plans to invest $2.2 billion in a pharmaceutical manufacturing site in central Ohio, a major bet on the state’s life-sciences sector. Jobs: Cincinnati-based Kroger expects to eliminate about 3,000 corporate positions over three years as it expands AI use and restructures back-office work. Energy & Data Centers: Opposition to power-hungry data centers is gaining traction in Ohio, where residents are raising concerns about land use and electricity costs. Separately, a proposed state bill would require utilities to compensate customers for extended outages and losses such as spoiled food and medicine. Regional Growth: Clermont County has completed its $200 million, 4.5-mile State Route 32 expansion, while Lorain’s first modular home under an affordable-housing program points to new approaches for addressing housing costs. Banking: Interra Credit Union has completed its acquisition of Hicksville Bank, expanding its footprint in Ohio and Indiana.

Data Center Debate: AI data center plans are becoming a political flashpoint in Ohio, where residents worry about power demands and farmland loss. Near Grove City, a seven-generation farm family rejected a $1.5 million offer for part of its land; a village council member says independent reviews found no clear deal-breakers but flagged gaps in the data. Major Investment: Bayer is moving ahead with plans for a $2.2 billion pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in central Ohio, a major boost to the state’s life-sciences sector. Jobs & Logistics: Einride and EASE Logistics have begun daily driverless electric freight operations on Ohio roads, while the closure of an Ohio truck plant has left 1,341 workers without jobs. Finance & Land: Interra Credit Union completed its acquisition of an Ohio bank, and the state approved easements protecting 5,165 acres across 58 farms.

Banking: Interra Credit Union completed its acquisition of an Ohio bank, bringing the Hicksville and Edgerton branches into its network. Steel and Trade: Cleveland-Cliffs’ CEO says the company is prepared to fight Canada in court over Stelco layoffs, as trade tensions and tariffs add pressure on manufacturers. Investment: Bayer plans a $2.2 billion pharmaceutical plant in central Ohio, while Ohio regulators approved a permit for Cleveland-Cliffs’ $1 billion Middletown Works project. Jobs: A historic Ohio truck plant has closed, leaving 1,341 workers jobless; its new owner has not set a reopening date. Energy: Oklo is investing $4.5 million in Ohio State’s nuclear engineering program. Housing: A $50 million, 242-unit apartment community has opened in Clermont County.

Steel & Trade: Ohio-based Cleveland-Cliffs says it will proceed with up to 500 layoffs at its Canadian Stelco operations despite Ottawa’s legal threat, citing weak demand and trade tensions. In North Jackson, Shapes Unlimited says tariffs are adding $4.5 million to $5 million in annual costs. Major Investments: Bayer plans a $2.2 billion pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Ohio, while Cleveland-Cliffs’ $1 billion Middletown Works project has won state permit approval. Jobs & Skills: A historic Ohio truck plant closure has left 1,341 workers without jobs. Meanwhile, Oklo is investing $4.5 million in Ohio State’s nuclear engineering program.

Manufacturing Costs: North Jackson aluminum maker Shapes Unlimited says tariffs add millions of dollars to annual costs, with Iran-related shipping expenses piling on and uncertainty weighing on business. Housing Investment: A $50 million, 242-unit apartment community has opened in Clermont County. Nuclear Workforce: Oklo is investing $4.5 million in Ohio State’s nuclear engineering program, while a new Fisher College lab gives business students access to 30 Bloomberg terminals. Freight Innovation: Einride and EASE Logistics have begun daily driverless electric-truck runs on Ohio roads. Pharmaceuticals: Bayer plans to invest $2.2 billion in an Ohio manufacturing campus.

Nuclear Workforce: Oklo is investing $4.5 million with Ohio State to launch an undergraduate nuclear engineering major, renovate labs and fund scholarships as demand for nuclear talent grows. Manufacturing Investment: Bayer selected Central Ohio for a $2.2 billion pharmaceutical manufacturing facility, adding to the state’s industrial pipeline. Freight Innovation: Einride has begun daily driverless freight operations in Ohio, a potential test case for autonomous logistics. Energy and Costs: Ohio’s 90-day gas-tax holiday offers some relief to drivers and businesses, though an agricultural economist says farmers may see limited savings. Paladin is also targeting 150 tonnes of annual rare-earth recovery in Ohio.

Higher Education: Cleveland State will cover tuition for eligible Ohio freshmen starting in fall 2027, for families earning up to $125,000. Logistics: Einride and EASE Logistics have begun daily driverless electric freight runs on Ohio roads, bringing autonomous trucking into commercial use. Investment: Bayer plans a $2.2 billion pharmaceutical manufacturing campus in central Ohio, with 600 jobs and construction targeted for 2027. Manufacturing: A historic Ohio truck plant has closed, leaving 1,341 workers without jobs and no reopening date from its new owner. Energy: Governors in the PJM region are coordinating on electric capacity as data centers add pressure to the grid. Agriculture: Ohio cattle feeders face falling prices after packing-plant closures, with one farmer estimating a potential $65,000 loss on a group of cattle.

Farm Costs: Ohio State economist Gabriel Lade says the state’s diesel-tax holiday offers farmers little relief—about 20 cents per acre, or $200–$300 for a 1,000-acre operation—and could push up fuel prices if demand rises. Pharma Investment: Bayer plans a $2.2 billion drug-manufacturing facility in New Albany, with construction expected to start in 2027 and about 600 jobs planned. Manufacturing Jobs: A historic Ohio truck plant has shut down, leaving 1,341 workers laid off with no reopening date from its new owner. Power Infrastructure: The U.S. Energy Department is offering up to $4.2 billion in financing for nuclear plant upgrades in Ohio and Pennsylvania, including work at Ohio’s Perry plant.

Hospitality: Aurora’s Bertram Inn and Conference Center will close in January 2027 after 26 years, though its restaurant and scheduled events will continue through the year-end. Industrial Reach: Ohio foundry firm Humtown is partnering with Germany’s innoMold to supply 3D-printed sand cores to European foundries. Development: Lorain County plans to sell nearly 350 acres near its airport for $75,000 an acre, with part of the proceeds earmarked for airport improvements. Manufacturing: Bayer’s planned $2.2 billion New Albany pharmaceutical campus is expected to create 600 jobs, while a truck plant closure has left 1,341 workers jobless with no reopening date. Energy: Ohio EPA approval advances Cleveland-Cliffs’ $1 billion Middletown Works project, and a federal loan package of up to $4.2 billion could fund nuclear upgrades in Ohio and Pennsylvania as demand for electricity climbs.

Industrial Labor: Former Fuyao Glass workers described harsh conditions at the company’s Ohio plant to Rep. Ro Khanna, putting workplace safety back in focus. Manufacturing Investment: Ohio EPA approved a permit for Cleveland-Cliffs’ $1 billion Middletown Works project, while Bayer plans a $2.2 billion central Ohio pharmaceutical plant expected to create 600 jobs. Jobs: A historic Ohio truck plant has shut down, leaving 1,341 workers jobless with no reopening date from its new owner. Data Centers: A new study argues Ohio would be better off banning data center construction than maintaining current policy, as local debates over power demand and costs intensify. Freight Innovation: Einride and EASE Logistics have begun daily driverless electric-truck operations on Ohio roads, bringing autonomous freight into regular use. Cleveland Economy: Pilots and businesses are urging the city to invest in Burke Lakefront Airport, saying it can support local growth as the closure debate stalls.

Battery Supply: LG Energy Solution secured four years of Canadian lithium concentrate to support North American battery production, including its Ohio joint venture with Honda. Fuel Costs: Ohio’s 90-day gas-tax suspension is bringing uneven savings at the pump for households and businesses. Freight Innovation: Einride and EASE Logistics have begun daily driverless electric-truck runs on Ohio roads. Major Investments: Bayer plans a $2.2 billion pharmaceutical manufacturing campus in New Albany, while a federal loan of up to $4.2 billion will support nuclear-plant upgrades, including at Perry. Data Center Debate: Residents and local officials are pressing for limits on proposed data centers amid concerns about power demand and community impacts. Jobs and Industry: Nearly 1,400 workers were laid off at a Springfield truck factory, adding to September’s announced Ohio layoffs and closures.

Pharma Investment: Bayer plans a $2.2 billion drug-manufacturing campus in New Albany, with construction expected to start in 2027 and about 600 jobs planned. Energy & Data Centers: The Energy Department announced up to $4.2 billion in financing for Vistra nuclear plant upgrades, including work in Ohio. Meanwhile, proposed data centers are prompting zoning debates in Pierce Township, Defiance and Portage County. Freight & Retail: Einride and EASE Logistics have begun daily driverless electric-truck runs in Ohio. United Dairy Farmers plans fast chargers at six Columbus- and Cincinnati-area stores in 2027. Ohio Businesses: Hamilton-based Mean Green Mowers says it has cut its order backlog by more than 90% since returning to independent ownership and consolidating operations locally.