Intel groundbreaking contributes to Ohio’s growing construction boom

Dorsey Hager, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, made his monthly appearance on the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and talked with AWF host Ed “Flash” Ferenc about September’s ceremonial groundbreaking of the Intel semiconductor plant in New Albany and the incredible opportunities the project will bring to the building trades in Central Ohio.

Dorsey Hager, C/COBCTC Executive Secretary-Treasurer

Hager felt it was good to connect with contractors and Intel’s leadership at the event. He touched on President Joe Biden’s speech about the importance of the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductor (CHIPS) for America Act and the reinvestment in America’s manufacturing, and felt U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) both gave inspiring speeches. Following the event, Hager added that he had dinner with U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), who is running for Portman’s Senate seat, and discussed Ryan’s campaign.

He said many guests were impressed with the size and variety of construction projects occurring in Central Ohio, such as the Facebook and Amazon datacenters and the Amgen plant. Members of the national media were unaware of the construction boom happening in the region, he added.

Hager emphasized that any graduating high school student interested in the building trades has ample career opportunities, thanks to the Intel plant and other major projects in the Greater Columbus region.

North American Building Trades Conference focuses on pre-apprenticeships

America’s Workforce Radio Host Ed “Flash” Ferenc

Hager called into the show from the North American Building Trades Conference (NABTU) in Las Vegas.

Building trades leaders from across North America were particularly excited about the CHIPS Act, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the work these laws will create, said Hager. 

The conference focused heavily on apprenticeship and recruitment, particularly pre-apprenticeship programs, Hager noted. He discussed an effort by NABTU to assist cities and building trades councils across the country establish apprenticeship readiness programs. 

Hager also touched on the Permission to Dream program, a partnership between the AFL-CIO and the Chris Gardner Foundation that strives to give students in disadvantaged communities the support they need to enter building trades registered apprenticeship programs. 

Listen to the interview.