Dorsey Hager, Executive Secretary of the Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to provide updates on multiple megaprojects in Central Ohio and how the construction boom will impact the infrastructure in the region. He also talked about the need to recruit future generations of tradespeople and how the Ohio State Fair plays a role.
As the construction boom in Central Ohio continues, Hager began his conversation with updates on several of the region’s megaprojects. The Intel project currently has around 1,400 union tradespeople on site, with plans to increase 2,000 by the end of the year. Work on the exterior of the Honda and LG Energy Solution joint venture EV battery plant in Jeffersonville, Ohio wrapped up recently. Hager outlined the next steps for the project. He also provided updates on several other regional projects, and one thing is the same across the board: the need for more trained tradespeople.
With the rapid increase in construction and investment in the Columbus area, there also comes a concern about infrastructure keeping up with the development demands. Not only is one of the concerns coming from how to get the larger materials and tools needed for the jobsites to their location, but how will the region handle the increase in population these projects will bring with them? Hager talked about the infrastructure plans for the area and how the building trades are instrumental to these plans.
Finally, Hager discussed the outreach being done by the trades in Central Ohio. Every year, the C/CO BCTC partners with the Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Council and Locals from around Ohio for an interactive showcase focused on education and apprentice recruitment at the Ohio State Fair. He talked about the centerpiece of the showcase, the Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons’ Apprenticeship Competition. As work projections in the region continue to grow, the Local trade unions in the area need to bring in more members, and the state fiar provides a perfect opportunity.
Please listen to the show above for more on the work coming to Central Ohio.