Not since the implementation of the assembly line has America’s auto industry faced so much change so quickly. Much is at stake for Ohio during this transition.”

There may be a touch of the dramatic in Ohio Manufacturer’s Association President Ryan Augsburger’s declaration, but he is not far off the mark. The evolution of the auto industry has left our state in a position to capitalize, and the DeWine administration’s plan for “Supercharging Our Electric Vehicle Workforce” is an important one.

Priorities of the plan include expanding and diversifying the talent the state recruits and educates for EV careers; promoting a workforce strategy that serves all Ohioans — not just in the big cities; creating awareness of EVs as what the state calls a “force multiplier;” creating incentives for talent “skilling and scaling ambitions;” sustaining momentum; and maintaining our competitive edge as the manufacturing giant we have been since the Industrial Revolution.

“The DeWine-Husted administration’s game plan is focused on ensuring that Ohio’s skilled workforce transition occurs in a timely, efficient manner — all across our state — and can be properly leveraged to benefit the entire manufacturing sector. This strategy to expand our EV workforce will benefit all Ohio manufacturers due to the common skills and knowledge that will be gained,” Augsburger said.

In fact, the OMA is so enthusiastic about the inclusion of an EV focus in our economy that it has put together a report on “Retooling Ohio,” to look at the EV-related investments that are already happening.

“This is the right approach and an important step to make the Buckeye State even more competitive,” Augsburger said. “Ohio manufacturers look forward to helping lead this important workforce mission.”

No doubt they will lead, as Ohio’s manufacturers always have. The task now is for our best and brightest talent to get access to the education and support they need to stay here and be part of the growing momentum. If we can make that happen, the Ohio workforce will be supercharged, indeed.