The megaproject, which will be the largest single private sector company investment in Ohio’s history, will generate more than 20,000 jobs in the state, including 3,000 direct Intel jobs earning an average of $135,000 per year, 7,000 construction jobs over the course of the build, and tens of thousands of additional indirect and support jobs including contracted positions, electricians, engineers, and jobs in restaurants, healthcare, housing, entertainment and more. The project is expected to add $2.8 billion to Ohio’s annual gross state product.
AUTOMOTIVE, TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRIES INVEST
In June, Ford Motor Company announced it is investing $1.5 billion into Lorain County at the Ford Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake to assemble an all-new commercial electric vehicle (EV). This investment is expected create 1,800 new hourly jobs.
At the time, State Senator Nathan Manning, said, “Today’s investment by Ford in Avon Lake is a testament to the world-class workforce in Lorain County and Northeast Ohio. I’m proud to have supported the Megaproject legislation that will help Ohio win life-changing investments like this one. This is a perfect example of the success that is possible when JobsOhio, the State of Ohio, and our regional and local partners work together as one team.”
In addition to the Avon Lake investment, Ford plans to create 90 jobs and invest $100 million between its Lima Engine Plant and Sharonville Transmission plants. Ford’s Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake is expected to begin construction later this year as well as assembly on the new commercial EV. Ford operates facilities in Avon Lake, Brook Park, Lima, and Sharonville and has over 7,000 employees in Ohio.
“Ohio is one of the world’s great automotive hubs and a key manufacturing state that has been central to Ford since we first opened the Ohio Assembly Plant in 1958,” said Kumar Galhotra, President of Ford Blue. “Ford is proud to assemble more vehicles and employ more union auto workers in the U.S. than any other auto manufacturer, and our commitment to the state of Ohio deepens today with the creation of 1,800 union jobs and $1.5 billion investment to build an all-new commercial EV at Ohio Assembly Plant.”
If the expansion of the Ford Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake is reinforced, the Ohio Tax Credit Authority will consider a tax credit at a future meeting; therefore, JobsOhio will provide grant assistance.
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown has advocated for the American Auto Industry and has promoted expansion for car manufacturing plants throughout the state which creates new jobs and benefits workers. Brown initiated the American Cars, American Cars Act in 2018, which would help Ohio companies and workers throughout the auto supply chain. Brown has encouraged Congress to pass legislation in order to boost production and help U.S. manufacturers challenge global competitors. It wasn’t until last June, when the Senate passed the United States Innovation and Competition Act of 2021 (USICA). This act invests in American workers and the nation’s long-term competitiveness by supporting critical industries facing a global shortage. In February, the House of Representatives passed the America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing, Pre-Eminence in Technology and Economic Strength (COMPETES) Act of 2022, the House version of USICA.
