Central Ohio Matters
Central Ohio Matters is a podcast where hosts Michelle Gatchell and Ryan Rivers discuss the issues shaping Central Ohio's future. Each episode features in-depth conversations with local leaders, visionaries, and changemakers driving progress in Central Ohio. These conversations offer insights into our communities' challenges and the solutions being crafted to move them forward.
Central Ohio Matters covers government policies, healthcare challenges, housing and business developments, transportation solutions, education, and innovation. It is your guide to understanding and engaging with the pulse of Central Ohio.
You can listen to Central Ohio Matters on WVXG 95.1 FM (Marion and Morrow Counties), WXGT 92.9 FM, 1550 AM (Franklin, Delaware, and Licking Counties), and WDLR 96.7 FM, 1270 AM (Delaware and Union Counties).
Find it also on your favorite podcast streaming sites.
Central Ohio Matters
Solving Ohio's Housing Shortage and Workforce Challenges: Senator Michele Reynolds Shares Her Vision
Housing scarcity meets economic opportunity in this compelling conversation with Ohio State Senator Michele Reynolds, District 3, who brings a refreshing problem-solving approach to some of our region's most pressing challenges.
The senator doesn't mince words about Ohio's housing crisis – we're short approximately 200,000 housing units statewide, with property taxes skyrocketing 30-40% in many areas. Rather than imposing top-down solutions, Reynolds advocates for state government serving as a supportive partner to local communities through technical assistance, strategic planning support, and targeted grants.
What makes Reynolds' approach particularly valuable is her recognition that housing and workforce development are fundamentally connected. "Homes are where jobs go at night," she explains, highlighting that economic growth requires both jobs and places for workers to live. As Ohio attracts major developments like Intel's semiconductor facility and Anduril Industries, Manufacturer of Autonomous systems and weapons – projects bringing thousands of high-quality jobs – the housing component becomes even more crucial.
Reynolds advocates for earlier career exploration in K-12 education and stronger industry-education partnerships. She celebrates programs like Amgen's pharmaceutical training course at Columbus State, which creates direct pathways from education to employment. Reynolds also champions looking beyond traditional talent pools, emphasizing opportunities for disabled Ohioans, veterans, and returning citizens from incarceration.
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