AGP Executive Report

Redevelopment: East Cleveland is looking for fresh investment and jobs as the historic Nela Park campus hits the market. Hiring: 7 Brew’s new Springfield drive-through is expected to add 75 jobs. Manufacturing: Intel has reached a major construction milestone at its delayed Ohio chip plant, while Bayer plans a $2.2 billion drug-manufacturing site in the state. Jobs at Risk: Nestlé plans to close its Ohio factory by the end of 2027. Energy and Growth: Data-center proposals are drawing public opposition as consumer advocates warn the projects are pushing up electricity costs. Ohio also faces a steep decline in homeownership affordability.

Toledo Safety: Cleanup is underway after an employee error caused a chemical release that sent about 60 people to the hospital; evacuation orders have been lifted. Data Center Debate: Ohio residents strongly oppose data center expansion and tax breaks, as rising electricity costs sharpen concern over the power demand. Factory Investment: Intel’s long-delayed Ohio chip plant reached a major construction milestone, while Bayer plans a $2.2 billion drug-manufacturing site in the state. Manufacturing Shift: Nestlé plans to close an Ohio facility by the end of 2027 and move production to South Carolina. Local Jobs: The Toledo Blade is slated to end publication this year, with more than 100 layoffs expected. Housing Costs: Ohio has seen the nation’s steepest decline in homeownership affordability, adding pressure on households already facing high costs.

Distribution Disruption: Levi Strauss says its network overhaul won’t deliver benefits until 2027. Work from its closed Kentucky center has shifted to Groveport, where operational complexity is slowing the transition. Industrial Safety: Toledo officials say employee error caused the chemical reaction at MC Tank Terminal. Evacuation orders are lifted after 57 people received hospital treatment; an investigation continues. Data-Center Debate: Ohioans strongly oppose data-center expansion and tax breaks, while the state Supreme Court has kept a proposed $3.6 billion project on hold. Manufacturing: Intel has reached a construction milestone on its delayed Ohio chip project. Nestlé, meanwhile, plans to close its Ohio plant by the end of 2027 and move production to South Carolina. Economic Conditions: Ohio’s labor market weakened in September, even as initial unemployment claims fell and continued claims rose. Higher gas prices are adding pressure on households and businesses.

Housing: Ohio home sales fell 4.4% year over year in September, while the median price rose 5.7% to $274,900. Listings and inventory increased, but rising rates and inflation are weighing on buyers. Business Investment: Maumee Valley Group plans an $8.16 million expansion, including a new corporate office, with a 10-year, 40% property-tax abatement. Industry: Nestlé is moving production from its Solon foodservice factory to South Carolina, part of a broader consolidation that will cost Ohio a facility. Energy Costs: Oil and gasoline prices climbed sharply, adding pressure for Ohio households and businesses; a refinery outage also drove regional fuel prices higher. Data Centers: Opposition to large data-center projects is growing, with Ohioans raising concerns about power costs and tax breaks, while a proposed $3.6 billion project remains on hold. Jobs and Growth: Dayton-area leaders say the region has added 50,000 jobs since 2011, even as state labor data point to a weakening market.

Industrial Disruption: Toledo’s chemical leak prompted evacuations and shutdowns at Stellantis’ Jeep plant and nearby suppliers; the evacuation zone has since shrunk as conditions improve. Fuel Costs: An Illinois refinery problem pushed Ohio gas prices up about 10 cents a gallon in a day, adding pressure for drivers and businesses. Banking: Civista Bancshares reported third-quarter net income up 25.5% year over year, while Huntington said it maintained a strong capital position. Jobs & Investment: Ohio’s labor market weakened in September, even as Intel marked progress at its delayed Ohio chip plant by installing a major truss. Data Centers: Public opposition is growing over proposed facilities, with residents and consumer advocates raising concerns about electricity costs and water use. Manufacturing: Nestlé plans to close its Ohio factory and shift production to South Carolina.

Jobs & Investment: Ohio’s labor market weakened in September, even as the Dayton region reported 50,000 jobs added since 2011. Bayer plans a $2.2 billion drug-manufacturing site in Ohio, while Intel marked progress at its delayed chip plant with a major construction milestone. Business Shake-Up: Nestlé plans to close its Ohio factory by the end of 2027 and shift production to South Carolina. Data Center Debate: Rising electricity costs and local opposition are testing the state’s AI expansion. The Ohio Supreme Court kept a proposed $3.6 billion data center on hold, and Cleveland Public Power is seeking new monthly fees and tiered rates, with increases through 2029. Corporate Results: Bread Financial reported third-quarter results and raised its common-stock dividend.

Toledo Disruption: A hazardous chemical release at a Toledo tank terminal sent at least 60 people for treatment and forced evacuations and shelter-in-place orders. Officials said a transfer error caused the leak. Corporate Moves: GM authorized $20 billion in share buybacks as it cuts electric-vehicle capacity, including jobs at Ohio battery operations. Nestlé plans to close its Solon factory by the end of 2027 and shift production to South Carolina; the company has not said how many jobs will be affected. Data Center Debate: Ohio’s Supreme Court kept a proposed $3.6 billion data center on hold, as a consumer advocate warned that surging demand is pushing up electricity costs. Meta’s Ohio AI supercluster is planned to scale to one million GPUs. Ohio Investment: Bayer plans a $2.2 billion drug-manufacturing site in the state, while franchise platform EverSmith Brands opened a 12,000-square-foot training hub in Milford.

Toledo Disruption: A chemical release at MC Tank Transport’s north Toledo terminal prompted evacuations and shelter-in-place orders, disrupting nearby residents and businesses as crews assessed the hazard. Supply Chains: Dublin-based EASE Logistics says automotive suppliers want partners able to adjust quickly to tariffs, production shifts and changing freight demand. Data Center Costs: Ohio’s expanding data-center footprint is intensifying concern over electricity bills, while Vultr’s Springfield AI supercluster features in the company’s plans for major new computing capacity. Investment and Jobs: Bayer plans a $2.2 billion drug-manufacturing site in Ohio, a major investment as Nestlé prepares to close an Ohio factory by the end of 2027. Clean Energy: A new $40 million facility in Minster will turn wastewater and yogurt-production waste into biogas for Danone’s plant, reducing reliance on natural gas.

AI & Energy: Meta has brought its Prometheus AI supercomputer online in Ohio, with plans pointing toward a million GPUs. But data-center growth faces resistance: Ohio’s Supreme Court allowed Lordstown to reject a proposed project, while rising electricity prices are worrying households and businesses. Manufacturing: Conair plans to invest $9.75 million to reopen a vacant Franklin factory. Nestlé, by contrast, plans to close its Solon site by 2027 and move pouch production out of state. Trade & Travel: Freight carrier A. Duie Pyle opened a Cincinnati service center, expanding its Ohio network. Lufthansa plans to launch the Columbus region’s first nonstop route to Europe, connecting the city with Munich starting in May 2027. Local Commerce: Amazon has begun delivering essentials by drone across Cleveland’s east side, while Whole Foods plans a new Greater Cincinnati store.

Data Center Debate: The Ohio Supreme Court backed Lordstown’s decision to halt a proposed AI data center, ruling the developers had not completed required permitting steps before the village imposed its moratorium. Manufacturing: Nestlé plans to close its Solon factory by 2027 and move pouch production to South Carolina, while Centrus completed its $116 million acquisition of Westerman manufacturing. Business Connections: Lufthansa will launch Columbus’ first nonstop route to Europe, with Frankfurt service set to begin in May 2027; A. Duie Pyle has also opened a Cincinnati service center, expanding its freight network in Ohio. Housing: Northwest Ohio’s market stayed firm in the third quarter: sales rose nearly 5%, the median price reached $224,000 and total sales volume climbed nearly 13% to about $643 million.

Local Investment: Cleveland approved a voluntary grocery-store certification that could make qualifying retailers eligible for job-retention tax credits of up to 100%, aiming to preserve jobs and fresh-food access in underserved neighborhoods. The city also amended the I-X Center lease to ease its shift from events to manufacturing, with tax credits tied to new hires. Data Centers: Cincinnati is studying zoning rules for the fast-growing industry and is seeking public input on how to manage its impacts. Business Connections: Lufthansa plans to launch Columbus’ first nonstop flight to Europe, connecting the city with Frankfurt starting in May 2027. Retail: Ohio grocer Buehler’s Fresh Foods is acquiring three Sander’s Market stores. Costs: Columbus-area gas prices climbed 22.5 cents in a week, reaching $4.11 a gallon.

Global Connections: Columbus will gain its first nonstop European route when Lufthansa begins flights to Frankfurt in May 2027, linking Ohio businesses and travelers to a major global hub. Workforce: Ohio opened another round of CDL training tax credits, covering half of approved costs up to $25,000 per employer; applications close Dec. 1. Franchise Growth: Ohio ranks ninth among states projected to grow franchise businesses fastest, with about 30,000 locations, 300,000 workers and $33 billion in annual revenue. Cincinnati hosts a franchise expo this week. Betting Rules: Ohio says it will pursue legal action against prediction-market companies it considers illegal gambling, escalating a dispute with platforms including Kalshi and Polymarket. Data-Center Debate: The rapid buildout is drawing scrutiny over its costs and benefits, becoming a campaign issue as Ohio weighs data-center policy.

Public Funding: New SNAP rules shift 75% of administrative costs to states, with Ohio facing an estimated $67 million loss. Housing: Ohio saw the nation’s steepest drop in homeownership affordability: the share of occupations able to afford a typical home fell from 67% in 2020 to 26% in 2025. Workforce: Two southeast Ohio job-service areas propose merging across eight counties to better coordinate training and employer partnerships along Routes 23 and 33. Child Care: The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio renewed a $265,000 grant to Action for Children, supporting access to care and the workers who help keep parents in the labor force.

Health Coverage: AmeriHealth Caritas is entering Ohio’s ACA market ahead of open enrollment, which begins Nov. 1. Data Center Debate: Ohio’s push to attract data centers faces growing scrutiny over power and water demands, while lobbying around state legislation has intensified. Jobs: Ohio-based Kroger has announced mass layoffs, adding pressure for workers and local economies. Agriculture: Six in 10 Ohio farms entered 2026 with lower cash reserves, a warning sign for the state’s farm economy.

Local Investment: Chillicothe will mark the completion of a $35 million Yoctangee Park makeover on Nov. 6, including a farmers-market pavilion, sports facilities, an amphitheater and road upgrades. Energy & Data Centers: A report warns data centers could add $16 billion to Ohio electricity costs, as proposed data-center legislation draws heavy lobbying and federal officials promote a Southern Ohio data-center and power-plant project. Jobs & Business: Kroger plans to cut 3,000 corporate jobs over three years as it leans into AI. Separately, an Ohio expansion is projected to bring 200 jobs and $70 million in investment. Cost Pressures: Ohio saw the nation’s steepest decline in homeownership affordability, while statewide gas prices reached $4.08 despite the gas-tax holiday. Regional Development: A new Browns stadium plan in Brook Park allows less on-site parking, shifting demand toward nearby businesses.

Rural Health: Gov. Mike DeWine announced $92 million to expand access to health care in rural Ohio. Regional Investment: A $55 million pledge to Marietta College and the opening of a $13.4 million Clermont County riverfront project mark two significant local investments. Data Centers: The state’s AI-building boom is drawing scrutiny, with one study estimating data centers could add $16 billion to Ohio electricity costs as lawmakers weigh new rules. Jobs: Kroger plans to eliminate 3,000 corporate roles over three years as it expands its use of AI. Household Costs: Ohio saw the nation’s steepest decline in homeownership affordability, while gas prices climbed despite the state’s tax holiday. State Finances: Ohio tax revenue topped projections by more than $200 million, though pension debt remains a concern.