| When it comes to the economy, no single change is permanent, but change itself always will be (to paraphrase a classic rock song.) Ohio added 61,400 new jobs last year, up from 58,800 in 2023. But in Dayton? A new Federal Reserve analysis shows that while the Dayton area has added jobs since the pandemic, growth hasn’t exactly exploded. It’s always about the economy, whether it comes to buying eggs or electing presidents. The year dawns with economic momentum —and concerns Cat-Wood Metalworks employee Trenton Chambers, does set up on a machine Thursday, January 23, 2025. MARSHALL GORBY \STAFF The consensus? Things could be better, economically speaking. And they most certainly could be worse. For this story, we asked five Miami Valley residents with fingers on the pulse of the local economy about what they see (and foresee) in 2025. The numbers: Nine of 18 metro areas served by the Cleveland Fed have recovered all jobs lost since the start of the pandemic, but their recovery lagged behind other U.S. cities, according to a new report from the Cleveland Fed. That includes Dayton. What they’re saying: “It’s been an interesting economy,” said Dave Dickerson, president of business development for Dayton’s Miller Valentine Construction. “It’s been progressing. There are certain sectors that are doing better than others. And things may change based on the change in Washington.” Read the story. Reactions to Ohio’s anti-DEI bill runs the gamut Wright State University conferred bachelor's degrees to graduates on Saturday. ERIN PENCE/WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY Credit: Erin Pence What happened: After Ohio Republicans proposed a bill to ban diversity and inclusion efforts on college campuses, bar university staff from striking and require a state-designed civics class for bachelor’s degree, some faculty and student organizations are speaking out. Institutions themselves have said little. So what are they saying? A sampling: “As with previous iterations of the bill, it is a ‘solution’ in search of a non-existent problem,” said Bobby Rubin, president of the American Association of University Professors at Wright State University. “It will create unfunded mandates and needless administrative and regulatory bloat.” “As a top workforce partner for Ohio employers and the best education value for students, Ohio’s community colleges commend the transparent and collaborative process that helped shape SB 83,” said Avi Zaffini, president and CEO of the Ohio Association of Community Colleges. Read the story. Directives spawn changes at Wright-Patt, VA Staff Sgt. Jacob Reyes, a unit training inspector with the 88th Security Forces Squadron, directs traffic entering Gate 12A as it flows through all lanes on April 19 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO/TY GREENLEES Credit: Air Force Materiel Command Recent executive orders from President Donald Trump have created (or aim to create) a host of changes.Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, like other military installations, is adapting. Back to the office: One of President Trump’s executive orders mandates that government workers end teleworking or hybrid work arrangements and return to government offices. For Wright-Patterson, with nearly 40,000 military and civilian employees, that is no small change. Personnel teams at the base are very busy these days, I’m told. Social media pause: On Friday, the 88th Air Base Wing said it is pausing social media posting, citing a Department of Defense directive. The wing overseeing Wright-Patterson paused messages on Facebook and X shortly after 11:30 a.m. Friday. At this writing, posting has not resumed. Read the story. ALSO: VA IDs exemptions after Trump hiring freeze. EXECUTIVE ORDER BONUS: 7 things to know about how orders are affecting the Dayton region. WATCH: Demolition of longtime local funeral home. Tobias Funeral Home being demolished on Far Hills Ave. Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025. MARSHALL GORBY\STAFF Check the video: A longtime Far Hills funeral home has been demolished. If you drive through Far Hills Avenue and Rahn Road (like thousands of other drivers on a daily basis), you’ve seen this. If not, check it out. What happened: Tobias Funeral Home is replacing its facility at 5471 Far Hills with a larger one that will incorporate an indoor-outdoor celebration-of-life venue. The demolition continued recently with large equipment taking down the building from 1965 in a high-traffic area. Read the story Future set for historic Middletown steel research center A groundbreaking was held to kick off build out of the new E.I. Ceramics manufacturing facility in the old AK/Armco Research Center Friday, Jan. 24, 2025 on Curtis Street in Middletown. NICK GRAHAM/STAFF Credit: Nick Graham What happened: Construction is underway on the rehabilitation of the decades-old Armco/AK Steel research building in Middletown that will be the home of several area ceramic refractory plants. City and company officials gathered Friday for a groundbreaking at the art deco-style built on Curtis Street that will house EI Ceramics. What they’re planning: The company will bring operations in Sharonville and Fairfield to Middletown ― under one roof. The building opened in 1937. It was a critical piece of the steel operation in Middletown that took off with the founding of the American Rolling Mill Company (Armco) in 1899. Read the story. Contact me: Wherever you are, thanks for reading. You can reach me at tom.gnau@coxinc.com, X (messages welcome), LinkedIn or at our Dayton Business page. See you there. Quick hits: The value of Anduril’s new Ohio tax credit?: $452,263,789. In case you wondered. Chamber CEO: Looks at Ohio’s two new senators (one of them a former chamber employee.) Dayton Eats: Let’s do lunch sometime, says Alexis Larsen. What you’ll find at the Silos: Natalie Jones gives us a tour. Burger King’s U.S. manager of the year: You might know her. | 