Dorsey Hager talks Intel, Google, apprenticeship programs and Columbus mass transit on AWF

Dorsey Hager, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council appeared on the America’s Work Force Union Podcast on July, 5, where he provided project updates and discussed area apprenticeship programs. 

The interview started with Hager discussing Intel and how the megaproject inspired other companies to locate in Central Ohio.

Hager recently met with Bechtel, the general contractor for Intel, and he received positive news about the project. 

The number of construction workers on the jobsite is well over 1,000 and will be up to 2,500 within the next few months. More break and lunch areas are being added and office trailers are being moved around so field personnel can be closer to offices for supervisors.

Dorsey Hager, C/COBCTC Executive Secretary-Treasurer

“Whenever I meet with somebody that’s either expanding here or looking to come here, they always ask about Intel,” Hager said.

Hager predicts that other companies will open facilities in Central Ohio, where they will buy land and build plants to support Intel. 

As an example, he mentioned a local company that recently bought and rezoned 521 acres in Marysville and immediately bought another 800 acres of land. 

He estimates that these large sites will most likely be for battery or chip manufacturing suppliers, and announcements about them should be made by the end of the year. 

“It all creates more opportunities for my members,” Hager said. “This is just great stuff here in Central Ohio.” 

AWF host Ed “Flash” Ferenc asked Hager how the C/COBCTC plans to man these projects and how apprenticeship programs will play a crucial role. 

“We’re trying to expand and grow our outreach and our pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs and continue to grow, to make sure we can man these projects,” Hager said. 

Hager added that summer training programs for journeymen will be available so they can improve their skills, which will help keep all the megaprojects on time and within budget. 

Google’s new $2.3 billion investment 

Hager then talked to Ferenc about Google’s recent $2.3 billion investment announcement. Between Google’s three campuses in Central Ohio, a majority of the new money will be spent on the Columbus campus and the remaining funds will be distributed to the other two locations. 

“It’s going to be more datacenters, it’s going to be data storage and it’s going to be AI,” Hager said. “It’s going to be an incredible amount of work.”

Hager added he appreciates the folks at Google, in part because they give minority contractors a chance to get involved in the economic development that is taking place. 

“All of this work and development is helping grow a lot of our apprenticeship programs and our local unions and our membership ranks,” Hager said. 

To accommodate all the megaprojects, more infrastructure work like roads, bridges and highway expansions are already underway. 

Columbus is the 14th largest city in the country, with over 900,000 residents, and Central Ohio is expected to have 3 million residents by 2035, Hager added.

Mass transit needed

Columbus public officials have been working with MORPC, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission and COTA, the Central Ohio Transit Authority, to develop a mass transit plan to accommodate the growth in Central Ohio. 

America’s Workforce Radio Host Ed “Flash” Ferenc

A group called Link Us has been formed to implement five mass transit corridors and increase bus service by 45 percent. 

This will get people who live outside of Franklin County and don’t have the opportunity to drive in to be able to conveniently get to work in 20 minutes while alleviating some traffic. 

According to Hager, the first three corridors are scheduled to be done over the next 12 years. With design, planning and construction the total project will cost around $8 billion. 

Outside of the bus corridors, projects to improve sidewalks and add bike lines, trails and crosswalks will create more work for all the trades. 

“This is going to really help a lot of the neighborhoods in Columbus that haven’t gotten some of the attention they’ve needed and also maybe have been left behind for whatever reason,” Hager said. “It’s going to get everyone on the same path.” 

Listen to the full interview here.