AGP Executive Report

Mega Millions: The Fourth of July weekend jackpot is up to $542 million (cash option $242 million) after 30 straight rollovers since March, with the next drawing set for July 3. Local Infrastructure: Lakewood businesses and residents are dealing with a second-day power outage affecting about 1,200 customers, with the city pointing to the Lauderdale substation and FirstEnergy crews installing backup power. ODOT Safety Upgrade: Batavia and ODOT are starting permanent improvements to the State Route 32/Herold Road intersection (about $762,908), replacing temporary fixes after a fatal crash in 2024. Workforce Development: Lima is opening registration for the 2026 Global Leadership Summit, and Cenovus is also running a free process operations training program tied to petrochemical/manufacturing jobs. Energy & Environment: University of Toledo researchers are testing algae-busting buoys to help curb harmful Lake Erie blooms earlier in the season. Business/Legal: DOJ says some opponents of marijuana rescheduling have financial interests tied to keeping cannabis Schedule I, a case with potential ripple effects for Ohio operators. Antitrust/Consumer Impact: Ohio AG-led multistate action secured $3.3 million and 53 million eggs after claims of egg price manipulation.

Retail & M&A: Kroger agreed to buy Giant Eagle for $1.65B (about $1.25B cash plus ~$400M in liabilities), adding roughly 200 stores and 11 pharmacies across northern Ohio and nearby states as grocery competition and cost pressure keep squeezing margins. Energy Storage Manufacturing: LG Energy Solution and Honda’s L-H Battery JV in Fayette County, Ohio, has started mass production of lithium iron phosphate batteries for energy storage systems, shifting from the original EV-focused plan as EV demand cooled. Workplace & Local Economy: OneEighty earned Top Workplaces recognition for a fifth straight year in northeast Ohio, ranking No. 67 among small businesses in a regional employee survey. Community & Infrastructure: Washington County says the long-running Devola sanitary sewer improvements project is fully complete, with residents now responsible for yard upkeep. Ohio Business Pulse: Ohio’s Buckeye Lake Boater Training marked five years, offering free hazard maps and safety guidance for lake navigation. Housing Affordability: A Pew report finds homebuying has become harder for millennials and Gen Z as price-to-income ratios climbed, with first-time buyers hitting a record low share.

Federal Efficiency Watch: The White House says it won’t issue a final DOGE report before the initiative ends July 4, even as lawmakers—including Ohio Rep. Dave Joyce—press for details on staffing cuts and spending reductions. PFAS Accountability: Chemours reached a multi-state settlement with the DOJ/EPA over “forever chemical” releases tied to the Ohio River, with the agreement covering alleged Clean Water Act and other violations at multiple facilities. Energy Under Strain: A heat wave is pushing the PJM grid hard, driving up wholesale power prices and raising costs for keeping homes and businesses cool—especially across Ohio and neighboring states. Nuclear Fuel Deal in Piketon: Centrus Energy finalized a $900M DOE task order to move its HALEU enrichment cascade in Piketon from demonstration to commercial production, with delivery milestones through 2032. Grocery M&A: Kroger’s $1.65B plan to buy Giant Eagle keeps reshaping the Midwest grocery landscape, with Ohio store counts and deal fallout still drawing attention. Local Business & Community: Birdcall is planning a Midwest expansion that includes new Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati locations. Consumer Protection: WHIO’s I-Team reports dozens of women in Ohio allege losses tied to a women’s empowerment group, with complaints filed with the Ohio AG. Public Safety: Route 50 in southeast Ohio briefly closed after a hazardous power pole hit by semis; it reopened after ODOT stabilized the lines.

Grocery Deal: Kroger is buying Giant Eagle for $1.65 billion, adding about 200 stores and 11 standalone pharmacies across five states; the deal follows Kroger’s failed Albertsons merger and is expected to close in 2027. Workforce & Families: Ohio’s Child Care Cred program (employer/employee/state cost share) has been extended through June 2027, but only 22 employers are participating and fewer than 100 families are enrolled, leaving advocates pushing for more awareness. Energy & Land Use: A debate is heating up over solar on farmland in Ohio, with critics warning it permanently reduces arable land while supporters argue solar-plus-storage can meet rising demand faster than new gas or nuclear. Politics & Money: The U.S. Supreme Court struck down limits on coordinated party campaign spending, a move that could amplify wealthy donor influence—an issue Ohio political watchers are already tying to upcoming elections. Manufacturing/Defense: Beehive Industries acquired two Ohio machine shops to scale 3D-printed jet engine production for defense, targeting output of more than 8,000 engines annually. Local Safety: Duke Energy will test outdoor nuclear warning sirens near Brunswick Nuclear Plant July 1; residents should not take action during the scheduled test.

Grocery M&A: Kroger agreed to buy Giant Eagle for $1.65 billion (about $1.25B cash plus ~$400M in liabilities), a deal expected to close in 2027 and expand Kroger’s reach across Ohio and the broader Midwest/Mid-Atlantic; Kroger says it plans price cuts on thousands of items using imports and tech, while Giant Eagle will keep its brands and pharmacies for now. Antitrust & Food Prices: The DOJ and 17 states reached settlements with major egg producers Cal-Maine Foods, Versova and Hickman’s Egg Ranch over alleged price-fixing, requiring $3.3M in payments and 53 million egg donations to food banks. Energy & Climate: A report says “behind-the-meter” gas plants planned to power U.S. data centers could emit greenhouse gases on par with major countries, raising both climate and local air-quality concerns. Tech/AI Infrastructure: Cleveland-based Range Impact formed a 50/50 JV with C2 Ventures to build an AI infrastructure platform on a ~9,000-acre West Virginia site with land, rail, water and power access. Policy/Politics: The Supreme Court struck down limits on coordinated party spending, giving wealthy donors more influence—an outcome Ohio political watchers will feel in upcoming races. Immigration Impact in Ohio: Coverage highlights how the end of Temporary Protected Status is roiling Ohio’s Haitian community, with legal and economic fallout already underway.

Supreme Court Campaign Finance: The U.S. Supreme Court struck down federal limits on how much political parties can spend in coordination with candidates, a major shift that could boost big-money TV and reshape federal races. Ohio Business & Jobs: PersonalHour, a Dublin-based Pilates equipment maker, opened a walnut-wood manufacturing workshop and expanded fulfillment to 16 states to cut delivery times. Manufacturing & Growth: IMEG awarded engineering scholarships to students across Ohio and beyond, signaling continued investment in the next wave of engineers. Local Economy & Philanthropy: The Historic Harmar Bridge Company in Marietta received a $300,000 donation from Laurie Hadler to support the bridge restoration, including as match money for larger grants. Community Support: Ohio’s Summer Crisis Program launched July 1 to help households pay cooling costs and, in some cases, get fans or air conditioners. Media & Radio: Cumulus Media sold two stations to Family Life Ministries for $2.25 million, expanding the nonprofit’s footprint in the Youngstown-Warren market. Antitrust & Food Prices: DOJ and states reached settlements with major egg producers over alleged price-fixing, with $3.3 million and tens of millions of eggs tied to donations. Heat & Safety: Extreme heat warnings continued across parts of the region, with officials urging hydration and use of cooling centers. Local Events: Lisbon’s America 250 fireworks celebration is set for Thursday with heavy emphasis on water and heat safety.

Egg Prices Crackdown: Ohio is among states in a DOJ-led settlement accusing major egg producers of colluding to manipulate Urner Barry price quotes, with companies paying $3.3M and donating 53M eggs to food banks. Power Grid Stress Test: PJM asked for emergency authority to let data centers and other large users switch to backup power during a heatwave that could push Ohio-area demand to record levels. Data Center Finance: Aligned Data Centers is raising $1.19B via asset-backed securities, reshuffling collateral across U.S. sites as leased capacity changes. Agriculture Trade Watch: Ohio Corn and Wheat says USMCA renewal is key for U.S. wheat demand, with Mexico taking more than 7% of the crop. Local Government Budgets: Wauseon Schools approved 2026-27 fiscal appropriations and transfers, while Fayette County awarded a Fayette water plant roof bid. Community & Business Notes: Proforma earned a Northeast Ohio Top Workplace nod; Farmers & Merchants Bancorp raised its quarterly dividend to $0.23/share. Sports: LeBron James informed the Lakers he’ll play elsewhere next season, keeping Cleveland and other contenders in play.

Education & Community Support: East Liverpool superintendent Jonathan Ludwig told the board about summer school, Credit Recovery and Brainery enrichment, plus a $55,000 grant to replace half the district’s floor-scrubbing fleet and expanded summer meal delivery for 1,000+ families. School Leadership Moves: Wellsville school board hired Kylie Exline as superintendent and Sarah Palm as treasurer/CFO, with Exline moving from interim status to a two-year contract starting Aug. 1. Local Infrastructure: Marietta Mayor Josh Schlicher says major projects are advancing, including final-phase levee work (aiming to be ready for the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival), added sewer work near Green and Front streets, and progress on a new water treatment plant. Policy & Legal: A Sixth Circuit panel restored Ohio’s parental-consent requirement for kids under 16 to use social media, dealing a setback to NetChoice and tech companies that had challenged the law. Public Safety & Health: Northeast Ohio is bracing for a heat wave through July 4, with excessive heat warnings and guidance to hydrate and use cooling centers. Business & Jobs: Ohio approved tax credits for a Lucas County drone project expected to create 300 jobs, as part of JobsOhio-backed economic development. Sports & Local Economy: Warren County tourism hit a record $1.74B economic impact in 2025, with commissioners voting to raise sales tax 0.5% and waive county property-tax share for owners.

Consumer Protection: Ohio AG Andy Wilson announced a mid-July statewide “Romance Impostor Scams Forensic Initiative,” including a dedicated hotline and digital-forensics focus to help the BCI spot patterns and speed up action against romance scams targeting older adults. Energy & Environment: Ohio EPA will test air at Vistra’s Zimmer coal-ash landfill in Clermont County after neighbors reported intense rotten-egg sulfur odors and health complaints; the monitoring aims to characterize hydrogen sulfide concerns. Manufacturing Jobs: UDD Tech (Ukrainian F-Drones) will open its first major U.S. assembly and manufacturing center in Holland (Lucas County), investing $18.4M and targeting at least 300 jobs by Dec. 31, 2029, tied to the federal Drone Dominance Program. Public Land & Drilling: Ohio’s Oil and Gas Land Management Commission selected bids to frack about 15,000 acres of state-owned preserved wildlife areas and parkland in eastern Ohio, expanding access despite some rejected applications. Local Business Finance: Live Oak Bank named Matthew S. Diffley as Chief Accounting Officer, underscoring continued growth at the small-business-focused lender.

Property Tax Relief: Gov. Mike DeWine signed a $350 million Homestead exemption bonus (HB 479), aiming to deliver about $500 in savings to roughly 710,000 senior and disabled homeowners, though broader property tax reform is still stalled. Travel & Consumer Demand: AAA expects 72.2 million Americans to travel for the July Fourth week, including 3.48 million Ohioans, with higher gas and hotel prices keeping growth in check. Local Business & Jobs: PGI is reopening the former Champion Labs facility in Albion, restoring nearly 200 jobs and restarting production after the plant’s earlier closure. Public Safety Tech: Ashland and Richland counties are early adopters of biometric bracelets in jails, designed to monitor inmate health and reduce deaths, while privacy advocates raise concerns. Housing/Utilities Savings: MSD in Greater Cincinnati says about 19,000 Hamilton County households could qualify for a 25% sewer-bill discount, but only about 3,500 are enrolled—leaving money on the table for eligible seniors. Workforce & Economic Development: Ohio capital budget funding will speed renovations at the Youngstown Innovation Hub for Aerospace and Defense, creating manufacturing-ready space for companies waiting to expand. Elder Financial Scams: Ohio Commerce is warning seniors about a surge in investment and crypto-related fraud, citing steep increases in losses nationwide and Ohio’s high complaint volume.

Immigration & Labor: U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told migrants on Temporary Protected Status to either apply for permanent residence or leave, after a Supreme Court ruling cleared the way to end TPS for many Haitians and Syrians—an issue Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine says would hurt the state’s economy and healthcare workforce. Local Workforce: Defiance County’s Community Improvement Corporation is coordinating help for workers facing job disruption from a planned UPS hub closure, including outreach to local employers and job-resource support. Economic Development: Henry County’s CIC discussed several confidential “projects” that could bring new jobs and business lines, plus a new state incentive confidentiality law and participation in an In-Demand Jobs Day. Business Growth: Andres O’Neil & Lowe Insurance won Auto-Owners’ top Sapphire Agency Award in Ohio for the second straight year. Health & Community: Akron-area residents brace for a multi-day heat advisory with heat indexes near or above 100, and Akron is extending cooling-center hours. Agriculture & Water Quality: Ohio’s ODA and Indigo Ag expanded H2Ohio incentives, using carbon-credit verification to help farmers offset conservation costs. Hospital Leadership: Beacon Health System named Jamie Easterling president of Memorial Hospital in South Bend. Real Estate/Travel: Portman secured $540M in financing for a Cincinnati Downtown Marriott, aimed at boosting the city’s convention district.

PFAS Settlement: Chemours agreed to a $450 million deal tied to “forever chemicals” discharged into rivers, including allegations involving Ohio waters, with major funding for controls and drinking-water cleanup. Energy & Reliability: PUCO denied FirstEnergy’s request for looser outage rules and more time to respond, pointing to significant summer outages in Lakewood and Barberton. Local Infrastructure: Mansfield’s Main Street Corridor Improvement Project is 67% done and still on track for late-October completion, despite surprises uncovered during utility work. Solar for Faith Communities: United Methodist Church of Kent added 281 solar panels, expected to cover more than 100% of its energy needs. Real Estate & Branding: The Longaberger Basket Building in Newark is back on the market for $8.5 million, offering a rare corporate landmark for buyers. Community Events: Central Ohio towns are rolling out July 4 and America 250 celebrations, while Streetsboro warns of major Diagonal Road/State Route 303 roadwork starting July 13.

Public Finance Oversight: Geauga County got a clean 2024 financial opinion, but a state audit flagged a $215.6 million property-tax reporting misstatement and missing federal COVID-relief reports, pointing to internal control gaps. Education Funding: Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 479 to update how districts calculate their local share for school construction, with lawmakers citing potential taxpayer savings (example: Heath City Schools). Southern Ohio Investment: State Sen. Shane Wilkin announced $14M+ for projects across the 17th District from the state capital budget, including major funding for Rio Grande Community College. Reindustrialization & Data Centers: An open house in Pike County outlined reindustrialization plans for the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion plant, tied to SB Energy’s proposed power buildout and a large data center development. Energy Efficiency for Schools: SWEPCO delivered a $49,505 incentive check for Kilgore ISD’s new high school efficiency upgrades, targeting major annual electricity savings. Immigration & Local Impact: A Springfield pastor warned that the Supreme Court’s TPS rollback for Haitians could hit Ohio communities economically and disrupt local churches. Community & Housing Finance: KeyBank was named a Civic 50 honoree for the 13th straight year, highlighting long-running community investment.

Community Finance: Ashtabula County Convention Facilities Authority moved $800,000 into a STAR Ohio account for 3.84% interest after reviewing tourism finances. Housing & Credit: ATTOM says U.S. foreclosure filings fell 5% from April but rose 14% year over year, with Cleveland among metros seeing the highest May rates. Workforce Development: Paulding County’s Business Advisory Council pushed career-technical education and apprenticeship pathways, aligning schools with employer needs. Local Business & Banking: Farmers National Investments added Josh Reynolds in Marysville to expand personalized wealth guidance. Education & Youth: New Lexington FFA named national finalists for the National FFA Convention after state proficiency wins. Public Safety & Health: Ohio Sea Grant and NOAA warned Lake Erie harmful algal blooms are expected to be mild-to-moderate, with scum toxicity and pet risk. Policy Watch: Ohio’s social media age-verification law cleared a major legal hurdle after a federal injunction. Community Events: Pickaway County rolled out its 2026–2027 visitor guide and launched Pickaway WORKS to build fall workforce pipelines.

Manufacturing & Jobs: United Alloy will open its first Ohio plant in Union (near Dayton) this summer, a $10 million, 182,000-square-foot facility making parts for data centers, with at least 60 jobs expected (up to 100 hires). Local Development: Defiance County’s CIC says First Quality’s new west-of-Defiance paper plant is moving ahead, including a formed JEDD board, a 1.8% income tax for workers in the district, and an enterprise zone agreement for property tax abatement. Downtown Retail: Heinen’s is closing its Downtown Cleveland store July 31, saying no layoffs will occur and associates will be offered roles at other locations. Energy & Agriculture: The White House signed an executive order pushing regenerative agriculture and USDA issued a final regenerative feedstock rule tied to biofuels markets for crops including corn and soybeans. Housing: Fairfield Homes won 9% low-income housing tax credits for a 65-unit senior development in Marietta’s Harmar Village, with rents tied to area income limits. Healthcare & Community: Southern Ohio Medical Center was named to Becker’s “Great community hospitals” list, while Hospice of Northwest Ohio is seeking volunteers in Fulton and Henry counties. Data Centers Watch: Ohio’s debate over data center costs and potential voter action continues as more projects and planning events draw attention.

PFAS Accountability: EPA/DOJ reached a landmark $450M settlement with Chemours over alleged “forever chemicals” discharges into the Cape Fear, Delaware and Ohio River systems, with major funding for corrective measures and drinking-water alternatives. Ohio Health Competition: Ohio AG Andy Wilson and DOJ proposed a settlement with OhioHealth to stop contract terms that limit insurers from sharing lower-cost care options with patients. Immigration Policy Shock: The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status for Haitians and Syrians, putting hundreds of thousands at risk and raising workforce concerns for nonprofits and care providers. Workforce & Education Pipeline: Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center ran teacher boot camps across north central Ohio, pairing educators with local employers to connect classroom learning to in-demand jobs. Community Development: Ohio opened nominations for Opportunity Zones 2.0, aiming to steer private investment into eligible Ohio census tracts starting Jan. 1, 2027. Local Business Pulse: Downtown Delphos drew crowds with a farmers market, wellness expo and block party, while Lima advanced CDBG/HOME funding allocations after a public hearing. Public Finance Milestone: Ohio Treasurer Sprague marked 10 years of the STABLE Account program, now serving more than 58,000 active accounts. Small Business & Jobs Growth: Analysis finds black-owned businesses in Ohio increased payroll by 82% from 2017 to 2023, employing more than 64,000 people. Energy Regulation: Gov. DeWine vetoed Ohio submetering legislation, calling the model “fundamentally flawed.”