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Season 6, Episode 152

Dorsey Hager discusses Central Ohio’s construction boom and workforce needs

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Guest Name:


Dorsey Hager

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https://columbusconstruction.org/ 

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Dorsey Hager, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the region's construction boom, infrastructure investments and workforce development efforts. 

Central Ohio's construction industry is experiencing unprecedented growth, with $30 billion worth of projects within a five-mile radius of Intel's new facility. Hager detailed ongoing developments, including Meta's datacenter expansions, Amazon's $10 billion datacenter campus and various other tech-related construction projects. Despite some slowdowns at Intel, Hager emphasized the overall positive impact, noting that 1,200 workers are currently employed at the site, earning good wages and benefits. He stressed the importance of maintaining perspective on the project's long-term benefits for the region.

Discussion then turned to the City of Columbus, which recently approved a $2.5 billion capital budget. Hager praised the capital budget as crucial for addressing infrastructure needs amid rapid growth in the region. He explained that it allocates funds for roads, bridges, police substations, community centers and fire stations. Hager highlighted the planned $300 million municipal courthouse project, which will include a Community Benefits Agreement to ensure local hiring and diversity in the workforce. He commended Mayor Andrew Ginther's vision in preparing the city for future expansion and addressing housing shortages.

Recognizing the need for a skilled workforce to meet growing demand, Hager discussed outreach efforts to attract new talent to the trades. He highlighted recent events, including tours of training facilities and participation in the Ohio State Fair, where various trades showcased hands-on activities to engage young people. Hager emphasized the importance of exposing students and parents to career opportunities in the trades, noting the benefits of apprenticeship programs as a fast track to middle-class wages and benefits.

Listen to the full episode to hear more about Central Ohio's construction boom and workforce development initiatives.


America’s Work Force is the only daily labor podcast in the US and has been on the air since 1993, supplying listeners with useful, relevant input into their daily lives through fact-finding features, in-depth interviews, informative news segments and practical consumer reports. America’s Work Force is committed to providing an accessible venue in which America's workers and their families can hear discussion on important, relevant topics such as employment, healthcare, legislative action, labor-management relations, corporate practices, finances, local and national politics, consumer reports and labor issues.

America’s Work Force Union Podcast is brought to you in part by our sponsors: AFL-CIO, American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of Musicians Local 4, Alliance for American Manufacturing, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes-IBT, Boyd Watterson, Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, Communication Workers of America, Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 50, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Crafts, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 6, Ironworkers Great Lakes District Council, Melwood, The Labor Citizen newspaper, Laborers International Union of North America, The National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, North Coast Area Labor Federation, Ohio Federation of Teachers, United Labor Agency, United Steelworkers.

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