The agenda for the event featured an open dialogue with local manufacturers on jobs and investment in growing energy sectors, adult workforce challenges, career technical education, infrastructure and site redevelopment, and other economic development initiatives.

“My efforts in the House are focused on fighting for job creation and common sense government,” said Dovilla. “That’s why I sought this opportunity to visit with leaders in our manufacturing community to receive input on what more we can do to continue placing Ohio back on a path toward prosperity and more jobs.”

Since January 2011, Rep. Dovilla has been invited into many businesses in the 18th District which manufacture everything from specialty label equipment and parts to small assemblies and pressure gauges. Throughout these visits, he has listened to business owners, workers, and trade representatives and introduced a series of bills to make Ohio more business-friendly, including legislation to renew the state’s commitment to trade education and to revise its tax code to incentivize the purchase of capital equipment. He also authored a unanimously-passed resolution calling on President Obama and the U.S. Congress to cite China as a currency manipulator, which would help American manufacturers compete on a more level playing field in the international marketplace.