Week in Review: Sept. 22, 2024

ELECTIONS 2024

Voters must present a photo identification to cast a ballot. According to the secretary of state's office, acceptable forms of identification include an Ohio driver's license; State of Ohio ID card; interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV; a U.S. passport; a U.S. passport card; U.S. military ID card; Ohio National Guard ID card; or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card. All photo IDs must have an expiration date that has not passed; a photograph of the voter; the voter's name, which must substantially conform to the voter's name as it appears in the poll list or in the poll book. An unexpired Ohio driver's license, state ID card, or interim documentation with a former address is an acceptable form of ID when the current address is in the pollbook. Ohio law prohibits acceptance of the following forms of ID: driver's license or photo identification card issued by a state other than Ohio; Social Security card; birth certificate; insurance card; utility bill; bank statement; government check; paycheck; other government document; or any registration acknowledgment notice from the county board of elections.

INTEL

Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger late Monday announced plans to shift "Intel Foundry" operations, including its Ohio plant, to an independent subsidiary inside of Intel, saying a key priority for that is to increase capital efficiency. He added that Intel remains committed to its U.S. manufacturing investments and is moving forward with its projects in Ohio, Arizona, New Mexico and Oregon. Projects in Poland and Germany will be paused for around two years. Gelsinger said Intel has made manufacturing investments in North America, Europe and Asia that laid the foundation for "a world-class foundry for the [artificial intelligence (AI)] era" and now must move to "a more normalized cadence of node development and a more flexible and efficient capital plan. A subsidiary structure will unlock important benefits. It provides our external foundry customers and suppliers with clearer separation and independence from the rest of Intel. Importantly, it also gives us future flexibility to evaluate independent sources of funding and optimize the capital structure of each business to maximize growth and shareholder value creation," Gelsinger added. The Intel Foundry leadership team will not change and will continue to report to him, though it will have a new operating board with independent directors to govern the subsidiary company.

TECHNOLOGY/AEROSPACE

Lt. Gov. Jon Husted announced Tuesday that 524 employers were approved for funding through the July round of TechCred, which will enable Ohioans to earn 6,747 tech-focused credentials. One of the leading industries awarded during this round was artificial intelligence (AI) at 1,061 credentials awarded.

TRANSPORTATION/INFRASTRUCTURE

Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) announced that $15 million in grants will go to several cities and townships around Ohio to support roadway safety improvements and improved road signage. The funding is part of ODOT's Small City Grant Program and Township Sign Grant Program. ODOT said $14,324,280 is being awarded through the Small City Grant Program to nine projects in nine communities. Projects will convert intersections to roundabouts, improve or reconstruct roadways, and upgrade traffic signals. The program funds projects in cities with populations from 5,000 to 24,999 that are outside the boundaries of a metropolitan planning organization. ODOT is also awarding $845,040 to support 38 roadway signage projects in local townships in 30 counties as part of the Township Sign Grant Program. The program provides funding for signs, posts, and hardware for signs along township maintained roadways. Funding for the Township Sign Grant Program is awarded as part of ODOT's Highway Safety Improvement Program. A list of grant recipients can be found at https://tinyurl.com/bdhk8y3h.

The Ohio Rail Development Commission Thursday approved $11 million more in grants for four projects through a program created in biennial budget bill HB33 (Edwards) aimed at eliminating dangerous railroad crossings. The budget bill provided $100 million in FY24 for the Ohio Grade Crossing Elimination Program (OGCEP), with the first funds going out earlier this year.

WORKFORCE

A Columbus Metropolitan Club (CMC) forum Wednesday focused on the efforts of the recently created Central Ohio Workforce Development Network and what can be done to address workforce issues overall, as well as discussing the benefits immigrant communities can provide. Network director Scott Johnson explained that the 13 organizations provide quality workforce development services in the community and are trying to identify ways they can scale and do better. The network helps employers from having to maintain a relationship with each member organization in order to connect with "great talent very, very quickly." When the network formed in April it surveyed member organizations and found that collectively the 13 entities have over 500 years of experience and almost 2,500 employees. Around 100,000 people seek their services annually.