EXECUTIVE UPDATE
Seizing Our Opportunity housing production to meet current demand, let alone the demand that will be created by the Intel project as well as other economic development activity. But this is an opportunity. This is an opportunity for all of us. For our industry to be a leader in our region. For companies to figure out how to best meet the needs of the region. For employees to figure out how to help their companies meet their goals. JON MELCHI
BIA Executive Director
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ave you heard there is going to be a little project in western Licking County? It seems you can’t read the news in our region without some mention of the Intel project and how it may impact every facet of life in central Ohio. Many of these stories highlight the negative reactions to the project, with a few reoccurring themes: • “The development is going to change our community.” • “We don’t have enough workers to build the development.” • “The development is going to lead to overcrowding in our schools.” • “We don’t know anything.” I understand the trepidation that some people may have regarding a project of this size and scope. Heck, I have my concerns as well. We have been underbuilding our region for more than a decade and we absolutely need to increase our
6 BUILDING INSIDER QUARTER 2 • 2022
We have two options. On one hand we can be pessimistic about our ability to overcome challenges and stay within the confines that we are currently operating in. On the other hand, we can flip the script, proactively embrace the challenge that this presents and become a leader for our region, state and country. This is certainly going to take creativity and ingenuity. But what businessperson doesn’t want to be presented with a challenge they can help solve? Our local government partners face some challenges. Primarily around utility capacity and infrastructure deficiencies, outdated land-use plans and inadequate staffing (both in numbers and ability). A local nonelected leader used the phrase, “We can’t fix your stink. So, give me some concrete examples and areas of improvement.” We need to dig in and help them solve these challenges. How can we creatively do so? Is labor a current and future challenge? Yes, it is.
My question for our members is, what are you going to do differently to meet these challenges? Are you actively recruiting from different segments of our region to identify new talent? Are you doing everything you can to keep your current talent? The Intel project and its labor demands will shine a spotlight on jobs in our industry in a way that nothing in recent memory has. Our organization can serve as a hub of facilitation and collaboration. We can and should be an industry of choice, and we have an opportunity to show why and how we are different. In talking with colleagues around the state and country, they can’t fathom that we have people in our community who think the opportunity for growth and progress are things to be skeptical of. It would be very hard for anyone to name a region in our state, or the Midwest for that matter, that has seen the growth and opportunity that we have in central Ohio. We are beyond fortunate. We get to wake up every day and figure out how to make this region great. How to build a family a home. How to provide someone a career. If that can’t get you excited, I don’t know what to say. I am passionate about our industry and our members. I am passionate about our ability to meet the needs of our growing region. It’s a privilege to serve this industry and to continue to work toward our goal of prosperity with purpose.
