Scott Phillips from GLTAAC attended the April meeting hosted on the Ohio State University campus by the Ohio Manufacturing Institute (OMI). The event speakers included Kathryn Kelley from OMI and Dorinda Byers, Growth Advisor with the newly formed Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) at The Ohio State University South Centers in Piketon, OH. The Ohio MEP Network works with more than 1,000 manufacturers each year to implement on-site projects, conduct training and connect manufacturers to resources and partners throughout the state. Scott shared information with the attendees regarding the Central Ohio import impact on the regional manufacturing base.
Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence.
The meeting included a tour of the new 3D Printing Lab at the OSU Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence. CDME was developed to meet the translational research needs of the university’s external partners. The center was funded initially via a $6.8M federal grant and by the The Ohio State University’s College of Engineering to ensure that university innovation provides a more direct impact on the commercial manufacturing industry. Nate Ames from CDME gave the MODE attendees a tour of the new 3D Printing lab.
Center for Automotive Research
Jennifer Humphrey, Events Coordinator from the Center for Automotive Research then gave MODE attendees a tour of their facilities. The Center for Automotive Research (CAR) is the preeminent research center in sustainable and safe mobility in the United States and an interdisciplinary research center in The Ohio State University’s College of Engineering. With a concentration on preparing the next generation of automotive leaders, CAR is recognized for interdisciplinary emphasis on systems engineering, advanced and unique experimental facilities, collaboration on advanced product development projects with industry, and a balance of government and privately sponsored research
Mid-Ohio Development Exchange
Mid-Ohio Development Exchange (MODE) is a membership organization of local economic development organizations from throughout the 11-county Columbus Region. MODE provides networking partnership opportunities and programming that increases awareness of economic development issues and best practices to continue to strengthen and grow local economies throughout Central Ohio.
Scott Phillips from GLTAAC shared information regarding the Central Ohio import impact and local import exposure and resources for manufacturers who are struggling to compete with imports. GLTAAC manages the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms (TAAF) program (click here for program information) for companies located in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. GLTAAC also tracks high import exposure industries in our region to help identify companies who can benefit from the TAAF program.
Central Ohio Import Impact
Like many regions in the Great Lakes region, the Central Ohio import impact has been increasing and the Region has been heavily impacted by foreign competitors. At GLTAAC, we track and analyze US imports and their potential impact on manufacturers in our region. With this data, we prepare Import Exposure Profiles down to the regional and county levels to provide our partners with specific information in their area. These reports have proven to be a useful tool to help REDOs and LEDOs understand exposure in their area and identify manufacturing clients who can benefit from TAAF.
At the meeting, GLTAAC provided the Partnership and its 11 LEDO Council partners, with industry specific import exposure information, as detailed below:
98.1 from a total of 811 
manufacturing manufacturing firms within the Central Ohio region (County Business Patterns, 2016) are in industries that faced rising imports over the past year.
Manufacturers in the Central Ohio region have experienced an average in import increases of about 9.9%, on average, over the past year.
Import Exposure Breakdown
- 98.1% of the manufacturing base in the 11 County Columbus Region are facing rising imports compared to 96.2% for all of the United States.
- The four largest counties with the greatest number of manufacturing plants represent 79% of the entire Columbus Region.
- 6 of the 11 counties face particularly high import exposures with average increases of more than 10%.
Grow Licking County
Nate Strum showed particular interest in the TAAF program as a tool in his toolbox that he can offer to manufacturing firms in Licking County. Nate joined GROW Licking County in December 2015. As Executive Director, Nate serves as the primary point of contact for business and industry attraction and expansion inquiries about Licking County as well as the County’s representative for activities related to the region’s Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC).
Click here to see the full report for the Central Ohio Region.
To understand more about import exposure data, click here for an article explaining the data analysis process.
Our goal is to identify TAAF prospects in each county in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. Let us know if you would like an import exposure profile for your region or county, we would be happy to produce a customized report for you.
