June 26, 20231 yr As a local government employee that needs to coordinate with state government employees, I am anxious to see them back in the office and accessible by phone. Many agencies, such as Development, started directing all correspondence to email, which is not always an effective way to communicate. The big winner in all this is Downtown Columbus.
June 26, 20231 yr Why can't they be encouraged/instructed to use phones at home then? Seems like an easy fix.
June 26, 20231 yr My (engineering) company moved to Microsoft Teams. Now a single number gets you in the office, while working from home, and on your cell while on job sites.
July 26, 20231 yr Nice story about Bath and Body Works in today's WSJ, highlighting the reshoring of BBW's manufacturing in New Albany. Apparently the same product at the same price that requires 50 workers and $2 million in capital in China can be produced by 10 workers and $12 million in capital in Ohio. $10 million to get rid of 40 workers is probably worth doing even in China; in Ohio, it's an easy choice. https://www.wsj.com/articles/bath-body-works-us-manufacturing-413cf9d0?mod=Searchresults_pos1&page=1 Remember: It's the Year of the Snake
July 31, 20231 yr Interesting..especially the Midwest part re: acquisition and development financing... "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
August 26, 20231 yr On 7/31/2023 at 6:48 AM, KJP said: Interesting..especially the Midwest part re: acquisition and development financing... Interesting! According to that chart--the biggest issue in the midwest, financing, doesn't show up as an issue at all in four of those regions. But overall, those regions are too big for anything meaningful. The impediments in one city or in its suburbs can be very different from another city or another city's suburbs in the same region. Likewise, Chicago is "Midwest" and may not have any issues around financing, but Lima, Ohio does.
September 11, 20231 yr Twinkies are sold! J.M. Smucker scoops up Hostess Brands for $5.6 billion "It's a sweet deal for Hostess — and spreads the peanut butter and jelly empire of J.M. Smucker: The storied maker of Twinkies, Ho-Hos, Ding Dongs, Zingers and other long-lasting sugary treats is being bought by the leading snacking conglomerate. The total price tag is a whopping $5.6 billion — a huge scoop for Hostess, which has gone through bankruptcy not once but twice in the past two decades. That included a few months when Twinkies disappeared from the shelves. Smucker had to fight to snag Hostess, prevailing over several big rivals that reportedly included PepsiCo, Oreo maker Mondelez International and Cheerios maker General Mills." https://www.npr.org/2023/09/11/1198741169/smucker-hostess-brands-twinkies
September 11, 20231 yr Great news for Smuckers and the Ohio economy! A couple of top of mind thoughts. Smuckers need to get a presence in Cleveland if they want talent to keep managing and developing all these consumer brands. I’ve noticed on LinkedIn recently, they generally state ‘Cleveland/Hybrid’ for a lot of their marketing and channel management roles. I know a few talented people who’ve really liked the look of jobs there, but won’t stomach even 2-3 days a week making that commute. It’s a bit dispiriting to see such a price tag and corporate fight for a line of brands that really are appallingly processed and unhealthy crap. I’m no exemplar of healthy eating, but man, those things are bad. My hovercraft is full of eels
September 11, 20231 yr 1 hour ago, aderwent said: Twinkies are sold! J.M. Smucker scoops up Hostess Brands for $5.6 billion The total price tag is a whopping $5.6 billion — a huge scoop for Hostess, which has gone through bankruptcy not once but twice in the past two decades. That included a few months when Twinkies disappeared from the shelves. Smucker had to fight to snag Hostess, prevailing over several big rivals that reportedly included PepsiCo, Oreo maker Mondelez International and Cheerios maker General Mills." https://www.npr.org/2023/09/11/1198741169/smucker-hostess-brands-twinkies 24 minutes ago, roman totale XVII said: It’s a bit dispiriting to see such a price tag and corporate fight for a line of brands that really are appallingly processed and unhealthy crap. I’m no exemplar of healthy eating, but man, those things are bad. I remember the 2012 Hostess bankruptcy, and I definitely would not have predicted that the brand would sell for that kind of sum 11 years later. Some turnaround-focused investment funds and investment bankers, at least, are going to make a fortune from this. Whether it's a good deal for Smucker's remains to be seen. While I know there's no shortage of appetite for junk food in America, I admit that I wouldn't necessarily have seen it as a growth (no pun intended ...) market.
September 11, 20231 yr 38 minutes ago, Gramarye said: I remember the 2012 Hostess bankruptcy, and I definitely would not have predicted that the brand would sell for that kind of sum 11 years later. Some turnaround-focused investment funds and investment bankers, at least, are going to make a fortune from this. Whether it's a good deal for Smucker's remains to be seen. While I know there's no shortage of appetite for junk food in America, I admit that I wouldn't necessarily have seen it as a growth (no pun intended ...) market. Yeah, someone is making bank here. Distribution and display are the keys for well-known consumer brands. Hostess has both in spades. My hovercraft is full of eels
September 11, 20231 yr 1 hour ago, roman totale XVII said: Great news for Smuckers and the Ohio economy! A couple of top of mind thoughts. It’s a bit dispiriting to see such a price tag and corporate fight for a line of brands that really are appallingly processed and unhealthy crap. I’m no exemplar of healthy eating, but man, those things are bad. I can envision a future class action lawsuit accusing Smuckers of being criminally liable for US obesity. Kidding, sort of. Remember: It's the Year of the Snake
September 11, 20231 yr 2 hours ago, roman totale XVII said: Great news for Smuckers and the Ohio economy! A couple of top of mind thoughts. Smuckers need to get a presence in Cleveland if they want talent to keep managing and developing all these consumer brands. I’ve noticed on LinkedIn recently, they generally state ‘Cleveland/Hybrid’ for a lot of their marketing and channel management roles. I know a few talented people who’ve really liked the look of jobs there, but won’t stomach even 2-3 days a week making that commute. It’s a bit dispiriting to see such a price tag and corporate fight for a line of brands that really are appallingly processed and unhealthy crap. I’m no exemplar of healthy eating, but man, those things are bad. They got a lot of press recently for their "core weeks" policy where you can work from anywhere but you have to be in the office 22 "core" weeks a year on your own dime. https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/workplace/smuckers-return-to-office-plan-working-a933678 The idea of "super commuters" is crazy. If you are flying and staying in a hotel, that'd be like $20K in travel costs a year.
September 11, 20231 yr 1 hour ago, coneflower said: They got a lot of press recently for their "core weeks" policy where you can work from anywhere but you have to be in the office 22 "core" weeks a year on your own dime. https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/workplace/smuckers-return-to-office-plan-working-a933678 The idea of "super commuters" is crazy. If you are flying and staying in a hotel, that'd be like $20K in travel costs a year. Thanks. I hadn’t seen that and you’re right, it is crazy. I can’t see many people doing it and having a pied a terre in Orville. Not on the wages Smuckers pay anyway. My hovercraft is full of eels
September 12, 20231 yr 5 hours ago, Dougal said: I can envision a future class action lawsuit accusing Smuckers of being criminally liable for US obesity. Kidding, sort of. Maybe that's why Bimbo bought Sara Lee. Harder to sue a foreign entity for it
September 12, 20231 yr 6 hours ago, coneflower said: They got a lot of press recently for their "core weeks" policy where you can work from anywhere but you have to be in the office 22 "core" weeks a year on your own dime. https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/workplace/smuckers-return-to-office-plan-working-a933678 The idea of "super commuters" is crazy. If you are flying and staying in a hotel, that'd be like $20K in travel costs a year. the company could theoretically pay the travel costs.
September 13, 20231 yr On 9/11/2023 at 5:21 PM, roman totale XVII said: Thanks. I hadn’t seen that and you’re right, it is crazy. I can’t see many people doing it and having a pied a terre in Orville. Not on the wages Smuckers pay anyway. Congratulations. I’m betting you’re the first person to use the terms pied a terre and Orville in the same sentence.
September 14, 20231 yr https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/initial-jobless-claims-plunges-near-12-month-lows-thanks-ohios-fraud-fix Interesting stats here.
September 14, 20231 yr On 6/26/2023 at 5:15 PM, ryanlammi said: My (engineering) company moved to Microsoft Teams. Now a single number gets you in the office, while working from home, and on your cell while on job sites. Have you had any experienced with calls that are to or from Teams and a phone (the person on the phone not using Teams)? In my experience Teams is really awesome if everyone is using Teams, but that transition between Teams and the phone system is not good enough yet. That was a couple of years ago, however -- has it gotten better?
September 14, 20231 yr 20 minutes ago, Foraker said: Have you had any experienced with calls that are to or from Teams and a phone (the person on the phone not using Teams)? In my experience Teams is really awesome if everyone is using Teams, but that transition between Teams and the phone system is not good enough yet. That was a couple of years ago, however -- has it gotten better? It has in my opinion. Pretty seamless.
September 18, 20231 yr On 7/26/2023 at 10:38 AM, Dougal said: Nice story about Bath and Body Works in today's WSJ, highlighting the reshoring of BBW's manufacturing in New Albany. Apparently the same product at the same price that requires 50 workers and $2 million in capital in China can be produced by 10 workers and $12 million in capital in Ohio. $10 million to get rid of 40 workers is probably worth doing even in China; in Ohio, it's an easy choice. https://www.wsj.com/articles/bath-body-works-us-manufacturing-413cf9d0?mod=Searchresults_pos1&page=1 When Thomas & Betts moved its Strongsville plant to Monterrey, a lot of the key people got fat severance packages if we went down there to help with the transition. This corporate weenie was all proud that they had 11 people making 5,500 fittings a shift, manually. I did some quick mental math and stated that our labor rate per part up here was lower (1 operator, 20,000 pieces a shift, maybe an hour of the maintenance guy's time at most). He didn't believe me until I broke down the math.
September 18, 20231 yr On 9/14/2023 at 11:54 AM, Mov2Ohio said: It has in my opinion. Pretty seamless. 95% of what happens on Teams or Zoom doesn't need to happen in real time and could be an email thread.
September 18, 20231 yr Good article. If Ohio can maintain this favorable climate over the next few years/decades, it will pay dividends. Ohio moves up the list of best states for doing business "Ohio took the No. 5 spot in Area Development magazine's annual Top States for Doing Business ranking. The ranking for 2023 was markedly higher than a year ago, when Ohio was No. 8 on the list. The only four states ahead of Ohio, in order, are all in the southeast part of the country: Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and North Carolina." https://www.crainscleveland.com/politics-policy/ohio-ranked-5th-list-best-states-do-business
September 18, 20231 yr 8 hours ago, E Rocc said: 95% of what happens on Teams or Zoom doesn't need to happen in real time and could be an email thread. With AI and deepfakes you can't trust video anymore. Did the CEO actually say that? You don't know because you weren't there in person.
September 18, 20231 yr @EthanGreat for the state but an outside portion of it probably comes from Columbus. We have to get our act together here in Cleveland. We're not maximizing the potential of the port, NASA and the business community. We need better leadership.
October 18, 20231 yr Cleveland area to benefit from new Defense Innovation Hub program Quote WASHINGTON, D. C. - The Defense Department has selected Ohio to be one of five “defense innovation hubs” to promote the development of defense-related technology and help small businesses in the state work with the Defense Department. Although the Ohio Mission Acceleration Center (MAC) will be based in the Miami Valley, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown said it will partner with companies and facilities in Cleveland and elsewhere in the state. https://www.cleveland.com/news/2023/10/cleveland-area-to-benefit-from-new-defense-innovation-hub-program.html
October 19, 20231 yr 6 hours ago, freefourur said: selected Ohio to be one of five What were the other 4 states selected?
October 22, 20231 yr Louis Dreyfus will build a plant to convert soy beans into diesel fuel in Upper Sandusky at an estimated cost of $500 million. Good deal. It will have an annual capacity of 1.5 million metric tons and employ about 100 workers. Diesel Fuel qua soy beans: https://www.crainscleveland.com/manufacturing/dreyfus-build-soy-plant-near-sandusky-plans-100-jobs Remember: It's the Year of the Snake
December 13, 20231 yr There's GDP data for all Ohio counties and its largest metro areas in this article "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
January 3, 20241 yr Just wanted to share a little optimistic thought about the state in 2024 This is the chart that shows total nonfarm wage and salary employment from 1990 to present: As shown by the chart and reflected in data tables, employment peaked in mid-2000 at 5.638 million. It surpassed this mark for the first time ever in August of 2023. September, October, and November all surpassed the August number. We don't have data for December yet/January yet, but barring some surprising adjustment, they'll also be above the mid-2000 peak. SO! In 2024, for the first time in more than two decades, we are starting the new year with more jobs than we've ever had before! That's certainly a cause for optimism in my book.
January 3, 20241 yr We really could have continued spiraling downward in post-2001 and post 2008 as traditional manufacturing left for cheaper pastures. It's a testament to the business polices of Strickland, Kasich and Dewine and all of our great local leaders that we are in a healthy place and growing at such a rapid pace.
January 3, 20241 yr And most of that growth is occurring in the metro areas... https://neo-trans.blog/2023/12/12/cuyahoga-countys-economy-surges/ "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
January 3, 20241 yr 14 minutes ago, KJP said: And most of that growth is occurring in the metro areas... https://neo-trans.blog/2023/12/12/cuyahoga-countys-economy-surges/ And specifically the Columbus and Cincinnati metros, but I'm pretty optimistic Cleveland will join the ranks soon. (See graphs below). j j
January 29, 20241 yr "Feds provide $15 million for science initiative to aid Great Lakes manufacturing" says the PD headline. How many of these smallish grants affecting Ohio come out of Washington a year? Three or four? This one covers Wisconsin, Ohio, and Illinois, to be administered in Chicago. Will we ever hear about what efforts get supported or their results? Mmmm. Probably not. I wish there were some follow-up on these things. https://www.cleveland.com/news/2024/01/feds-provide-15-million-for-science-initiative-to-aid-great-lakes-manufacturing.html Remember: It's the Year of the Snake
February 2, 20241 yr On 1/6/2024 at 3:18 PM, mthompson said: Im concerned that another rate increase may be needed before inflation becomes an issue again.
February 8, 20241 yr Large metropolitan area percent changes in employment: "Percent change in employment for metros with a Census 2010 population of 1 million or more, from December 2023, not seasonally adjusted" https://www.bls.gov/charts/metro-area-employment-and-unemployment/large-metro-area-percent-changes-in-employment.htm "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 9, 20241 yr This is so brutal. It’s notable that Pittsburgh, which was supposed to be the rust belt role model, appears to be as anemic as us. We’re behind Columbus AND Cincinnati.
February 9, 20241 yr 1 hour ago, coneflower said: This is so brutal. It’s notable that Pittsburgh, which was supposed to be the rust belt role model, appears to be as anemic as us. We’re behind Columbus AND Cincinnati. Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Rochester, Cleveland are ground zero for the US aging crisis. There's a huge labor shortage.
February 17, 20241 yr State launches All Ohio Future Fund to support new development projects By Ken Prendergast / February 17, 2024 Gov. Mike DeWine, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik yesterday announced $750 million in funding is now available to assist communities with infrastructure costs to create project-ready economic development sites. MORE: https://neo-trans.blog/2024/02/17/state-launches-all-ohio-future-fund-to-support-new-development-projects/ "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 17, 20241 yr I always do a double take, e.g. "...all Ohio Future Fund to support new development projects By Ken Prendergast..." when I see these leads in the site main feed. Maybe in the near future he can launch a development company and the capital "(B)y" becomes lower case.
February 26, 20241 yr https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/sherrod-brown-locate-space-forces-testing-evaluating-command-ohio This could be a pretty big deal.
February 26, 20241 yr 2 hours ago, LlamaLawyer said: https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/sherrod-brown-locate-space-forces-testing-evaluating-command-ohio This could be a pretty big deal. it does make a lot of sense. ATF is gigantic and has tons of unused space if Space Force would need any new facilities. But it’s also already secure, so it would be a lot less work than starting from scratch on a new site.
February 26, 20241 yr If Ohio were to get this it would be the first time since we were routinely placing pols in the White House that Ohio was back in the national eye. I am tired of reading about the same states over and over that are leading the country in whatever metric we use to showcase growth and relavance.
March 19, 20241 yr How 'bout that "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 19, 20241 yr I'm surprised Columbus was even on the list. Though all the places where that ostensibly manufacturing income was generated have been double erased.
March 19, 20241 yr Toledo’s fall is so insane. They had insane wealth and should have been a major player in everything.
April 3, 20241 yr General Electric completed its restructuring- spinoffs yesterday and is now officially based in Cincy as GE Aerospace a Fortune 500 company with 30+ billion in annual revenue. With 9,000 workers in Greater Cincinnati they are a giant economic piece for the state. They will be making big new investments in facilities and such throughout Ohio and other sites. https://breakingdefense.com/2024/04/general-electric-completes-spin-off-of-aviation-engines-business-launching-ge-aerospace/?amp=1 Edited April 3, 20241 yr by 646empire
April 18, 20241 yr Here's an article about Key Bank's and the State Auditor's offices shrinking in Columbus. What's interesting and unusual about it is the coverage of explicit criticism of an out-of-town landlord. Zamir Equities bought the Key Bank Building on Broad Street for $12 million in 2020. The occupants have complained of a lack of basic maintenance ever since. And now two big tenants and some smaller ones are moving out. Ok, we've heard this story before - but rarely read about it in the press while it's happening. Congrats to the Cleveland Business Journal for the coverage. I can think of a couple companies in Cleveland they could also write up. https://www.bizjournals.com/cleveland/news/2024/04/17/key-bank-cap-square.html Remember: It's the Year of the Snake
April 22, 20241 yr Pretty cool - enriched uranium in Ohio. https://www.ideastream.org/2024-04-18/a-small-town-in-rural-ohio-is-now-the-only-place-in-america-producing-enriched-uranium When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
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