OAIMA

OAIMA thanks our Men and Women in uniform and all those that have served! Thank you Veterans!

OAIMA Remembers.

Great article on supporting local raw materials extraction to promote regional prosperity.

This week, we're raising awareness about the importance of aggregates during Ohio Aggregates and Industrial Minerals Awareness Week. These resources aren't just rocks and minerals; they are the building blocks of our communities. They contribute to environmental conservation, flood control, and water purification. Let's appreciate the Ohio aggregates industry for its invaluable contributions.

Building Ohio - Did you know that Ohio Aggregates and Industrial Minerals Awareness Week is here? It's the perfect time to recognize the importance of aggregates in our lives. These natural resources are used in construction, landscaping, and even agriculture. They provide the foundation for our homes, schools, and businesses. Join us in appreciating the countless ways aggregates contribute to our daily needs.

It's time to celebrate Ohio Aggregates and Industrial Minerals Awareness Week! Did you know that aggregates are the backbone of our daily lives? From the roads we drive on to the buildings we live in, aggregates play a crucial role in our infrastructure. Let's take a moment to appreciate the hard work and dedication of the Ohio aggregates industry.

Ohio Celebrates “Aggregates and Industrial Minerals Awareness Week" July 17-21
State Leaders Recognize the Industry’s Contributions to Ohio’s Economy

COLUMBUS - Limestone blocks for the outside of buildings, gravel and crushed rock for the bed of new roadways, pulverized limestone for cement–they are all products of Ohio’s aggregates and industrial minerals industry, and all essential to our state’s ongoing economic development.

To celebrate the industry’s contributions to Ohio, the Ohio General Assembly has designated July 17-21 as "Ohio Aggregates and Industrial Minerals Awareness Week” to help educate the public and raise awareness of the industry’s invaluable contributions to job creation and growth.

Today more than ever, the sector is playing a crucial role in Ohio’s construction boom by providing the materials needed to build facilities for job creators such as Intel, Amazon Web Services, Honda, Amgen and many others. The industry is valued at more than $1 billion and employs more than 5,000 Ohioans.

"Ohio's economic success is the envy of many states across the nation, and that progress is an exciting time for Ohio's aggregate producers, who are helping literally build the future Ohio," said Pat Jacomet, executive director of the Ohio Aggregates & Industrial Minerals Association. “It’s easy to take for granted the remarkable good fortune we enjoy in Ohio with abundant mineral deposits that are critical to our daily lives and our future prosperity.”

According to Jacomet, Ohio's career technical centers offer exceptional programs that effectively equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in the growing construction and aggregate industry, which has been a driving force behind the state's recent economic prosperity and helping build the new Ohio that the DeWine Administration, JobsOhio, and regional economic development agencies are creating.

By designating this special week, Ohio aims to foster a better understanding of the essential role that aggregates and industrial minerals play in various sectors, including construction and transportation. It also highlights the industry's commitment to responsible resource management and environmental sustainability.

Throughout "Ohio Aggregates and Industrial Minerals Awareness Week," the Ohio General Assembly encourages citizens, businesses, and communities to explore and appreciate the indispensable contributions made by the aggregates and industrial minerals industry.

The Ohio Aggregates & Industrial Minerals Association represents the interests of Ohio's aggregates and industrial minerals industry. The association is committed to promoting sustainable practices, supporting economic growth, and fostering collaboration within the sector.

Ohio aggregates materials fast facts:

• Ohio’s non-fuel raw mineral production is valued at over $1 billion.
• The Ohio industry employs nearly 5,000 people with an average wage exceeding $54,000.
• Another 40,000 people are employed indirectly in Ohio’s mineral industry as truck drivers, electricians, mechanics and other supporting professions.
• Construction of an average size school or hospital requires 15,000 tons of aggregates.
• Aggregates make up 95% of asphalt and 85% of concrete.
• One mile of a typical four-lane interstate highway with aggregate base requires about 38,000 tons.
• Aggregates mined in Ohio generally stay in Ohio. Only about 1% of the construction aggregates used annually in the United States are imported.
• Nearly all aggregates produced in Ohio are used in Ohio, usually within 50 miles of the production site. Over 90% of all aggregates are moved by truck.
• Ohio is the seventh largest aggregate producing state in the United States.
• There are more than 10,000 construction aggregate operations nationwide and approximately 450 in Ohio.

Thank you to our partners at the Ohio Geological Survey for this informative post!

If It Can’t Be Grown, It Has To Be Mined!

Ohio's geologic feature s are rich with source materials used in numerous industries and in making a variety of everyday products. A robust history of industrial mineral extraction has driven the state's economy for hundreds of years, going back to before Ohio’s statehood in 1803. Today, Ohio continues to be a leading producer nationally of several commodities, including limestone, dolomite, sandstone, conglomerate, sand and gravel, clay and shale, and salt.

Ohio’s economic success in this industry could not be achieved without the thousands of skilled trades people, so today on we are saluting you and thanking you for your work to keep Ohio moving and growing!

To learn more about skilled trades in the mineral industries, check out our friends at the Ohio Aggregates and Industrial Minerals Association. OAIMA represents all Ohio industrial mineral industries, promotes members interest in both the public and private sectors, and provides education, training, and communication through their Ohio Mining & Mineral Education Program (OMMEP).

Pictured: Rocksy the Mining Dog, OAIMA and OMMEP mascot!

'Tis the season for Open Houses....here is just a sample of our OAIMA members community outreach efforts, including: Miami County Parks District rock and mineral dig and identification (Piqua Materials and C.F. Poeppelman), Barrett Paving Materials and Lakeside Sand and Gravel.

OAIMA and our members support many local and regional educational programs. This week Piqua Materials, Poeppelman Materials, OAIMA and OMMEP are sponsoring a rock and minerals dig and presentation in conjunction with the Miami County parks district.

OAIMA, Ohio Concrete, UnitedL Enterprises and Fort Hayes Career Center partnered for the first-ever, "Ohio Construction & Transportation Career Day" at Fort Hayes. Nearly 300 career-focused Junior's and Seniors attended this event to learn about exciting career opportunities in the construction and transportation industry. The students met with drivers, operators, technicians and mechanics and were able to sit in the drivers seats of mixers and dump trucks and practice on a CDL training simulator. This was an amazing hands-on event and the students were excited to see real equipment and interreact with industry professionals. We plan to hold more events like this in the future. Thank you to all of the supporters listed on the sign.

Teachers Rock Ohio Workshop Dates and Locations are set!
We are pleased to once again offer three regional Teachers Rock Ohio Workshops in June of 2023. Click on the links below for registration and additional information.

Northern Workshop – Holcim U.S., Lafarge Marblehead, Ohio Quarry June 14-15, 2023
https://www.oaima.org/aws/OAIMA/asset_manager/get_file/778333?ver=2

Central Workshop – OAIMA Gahanna, Ohio & Shelly Marblecliff Quarry, June 21-22, 2023
https://www.oaima.org/aws/OAIMA/asset_manager/get_file/778334?ver=2

Southern Workshop – Cedarville, Ohio Martin Marietta Quarry, June 28-29, 2023

https://www.oaima.org/aws/OAIMA/asset_manager/get_file/778332?ver=2

Nearly 300 Teachers and Educators are attending the Science Education Council of Ohio's Science Symposium in Columbus Ohio. Dave Groth (Piqua Materials) and Pat Jacomet (OAIMA) are hosting a booth distributing our Rock and Mineral Education Kits and information on our upcoming OAIMA/OMMEP "Teachers Rock Ohio" summer workshops.

So proud to announce the dedication of the OAIMA "Freedom Plaza" today. Honored to have Secretary of State LaRose, Senator-Elect Michele Reynolds, Gahanna Mayor Jadwin and Adam Viney, Bob Knecht and many of the students from Fort Hayes Career Center who made this project a reality. Thank you to all who made this project a success.

Patriot Day, September 11, 2022. A day of remembrance and reflection. We will never forget.

Day 7 -Ohio Aggregates and Industrial Minerals Awareness Week

Did you know?
The Ohio Aggregates & Industrial Minerals Association (OAIMA) was established in 1918 and represents nearly 250 companies. 100 involved directly in the mining of aggregates and industrial minerals and 150 companies that supply and support the mining of these critical materials.

Fact:
OAIMA along with the Ohio Mining and Minerals Education Program (OMMEP) supports educational and outreach activities including the distribution of over 20,000 rock and minerals education kits over the past decade in conjunction with the Ohio Geological Survey as well as the yearly regional “Teachers Rock Ohio” teacher’s workshops.

Rocksy the Mining Dog reminds us that “If it can be grown, it has to be mined” (Salt is a mined material)

Day 6 -Ohio Aggregates and Industrial Minerals Awareness Week

Did you know?

A typical home requires 137 tons of aggregate and an average sized school or hospital requires over 15,000 tons of aggregate.

Fact:

Each dollar of aggregate sales, generates $3.47 of additional economic activity in other sectors.

Below: Rocksy the Mining Dog reminds us that Clay and Shale mined in Ohio is used in the production of bricks, blocks, pavers, glassware and pottery.

Day 5- Ohio Aggregates and Industrial Minerals Awareness Week

Did you know?

It is estimated that well over half of the aggregates mined in Ohio are paid for by tax dollars. Major users are ODOT, counties, townships and municipalities in their road, bridge, and infrastructure programs.

Fact:

Haul distance greatly impacts the delivered price of materials, including aggregates. Locally available aggregate sources ensure the most cost-effective project.

Below: Rocksy the Mining Dog sporting jewelry made from Ohio's Official Gemstone- Flint

Day 4 Ohio Aggregates and Industrial Minerals Awareness Week

Did you know?

Asphalt concrete (sometimes called blacktop) contains approximately 95% aggregate and Portland cement concrete contains approximately 85% aggregate.

Fact:

Nearly all aggregate produced in Ohio is used in Ohio,….usually within 50 miles of the production site. Only about 1% of the construction aggregate used in the U.S. is imported.

Day 3 -Ohio Aggregates and Industrial Minerals Awareness Week

Did you know?

Ohio ranks 5th nationally in the production of limestone and dolomite and 7th in the production of sand and gravel. In 2020 production occurred in 83 of Ohio’s 88 counties and included 347 operations.
Fact:

Every Ohioan uses approximately 10 tons or 20,000 pounds of aggregate, mined in Ohio, each year!

Day 2-Ohio Aggregates and Industrial Minerals Awareness Week

Did you Know?
The combined value of all aggregates and industrial minerals sold in Ohio in 2020 exceeded $1.2 Billion. This is the seventh consecutive year that this value exceeded $1 Billion.
Fact:
There are 38,000 tons of aggregate in every mile of road-that’s 76,000,000 pounds per mile!

Day 1 - Ohio Aggregates and Industrial Minerals Awareness Week

In May of 2012, the Ohio General Assembly designated the third week of July as “Ohio Aggregates and Industrial Minerals Awareness week. This Act was passed “in order to educate the public about, increase public awareness of, and recognize the important contributions of the state’s aggregates and industrial minerals industry to construction and transportation and to the states economic viability and to recognize the industry’s environmentally responsible stewardship of the state’s resources.”
Each day during this week we will provide facts about this vitally important industry and the positive impact the members of the Ohio Aggregates & Industrial Minerals Association (OAIMA) have on our economy, employment, and our daily lives.

Welcome to our new mascot, "Rocksy the Mining Dog"

As we say, “If it can’t be grown, it has to be mined”

Had a great day with local teachers at the "Teachers Rock Ohio" Southern Workshop this week. Special thanks to the Jurgensen Companies and Melvin Stone for sharing their expertise and their hospitality and Austin Powder Co. for a great shot! Spread the word about TRO 2023!

Day 2 of "Teachers Rock Ohio" at Gerken Materials was a day of continued learning about the production of specification aggregates beginning with overburden removal, blasting, crushing and sizing and finally reclamation. Special thanks to the support of our members including Eastman & Smith, NRM, Austin Powder and VibraTech as well as the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Ohio Geological Survey.

We had a great Day 1 of the Northern "Teachers Rock Ohio" workshop held at the Gerken Companies Napoleon Training Center. One highlight was a tour of their outstanding Quality Control Laboratory (pictured). Special thanks to Joe Knepley, Jim Shoemaker, Mandy Gerken and the team for an informative and productive day. Chip Tokar and Ross Mellgren with NRM spoke about amazing technological developments in mine planning and development.

The 2022 OAIMA Emerging Leaders Program continues to be a huge success. Session 2 was held in Canton, Ohio and we toured the Belden Brick plant and learned about the unique challenges of industrial minerals mining. Austin Powder hosted our networking event at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Thanks to Brad Belden (Belden Brick) and Steve Benson (Austin Powder) for their support.

Nearly 800 grade school students from Miami County attended our Rock and Mineral Dig last week to learn about the importance of mining in their daily lives. Thanks to all of our members for their support. And thanks to the Miami County Parks District for another wonderful program.

The Members of the OAIMA are thrilled to support educational events highlighting the importance of minerals and mining. The Miami County Parks District is hosting one such event featuring a rock and mineral identification dig and a program entitled "Is it Grown, or is it Mined?" Students collected Ohio rocks and minerals and get to take home their treasures in a "Rocksy the Mining Dog" bucket.
Programs like this provide information to the students, teachers and parents about the importance of locally available aggregate and mineral resources.

"A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit" Greek Proverb.
OAIMA members and friends planted nearly 600 trees at the "Edge of Appalachia Nature Preserve" on a cold, muddy and snowy Saturday Morning. Chairs of the Environmental, Energy and PR committees were in attendance along with Cliff Drouet, Forester with the U.S. Office of Surface Mines. OAIMA members support many conservation efforts, like this one, statewide. Paying it forward!

The OAIMA Freedom Plaza is nearly complete. The flagpoles and flags were installed today. We are funding this project through the sale of engraved pavers. There will be an official ribbon cutting later this spring. Too many folks to thank here, but proud of this project. God Bless America and all who serve her.