Task Force Lima met for their quarterly meeting before their trip to the nation's capital. The trip to Washington, D.C., is important for the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center in Lima. Task Force Lima will be speaking to various legislators and committees responsible for determining the amount of financial support for JSMC.

Task Force Lima meeting to discuss economic factors around the region and country impacting the tank plant. One major topic on the agenda was workforce development and the successful partnership with OhioMeansJobs to fill vacancies at the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center through career fairs and online recruitment. They are also working on plans to send representatives to Washington, D.C., in early 2025 to advocate for federal funding that would be put towards modernizing machines, equipment, and facility infrastructure.

Also at Task Force Lima the plant manager gave an update to the tank plant's employment.

In 2016 the plant employed 425 people. Now employment is up over 800 people. The Joint Systems Manufacturing Center began a big wave of hires over a year ago. They began with welders and have recruited 25 so far, but that may increase based on demand. The plant also ramped up production, pumping out 13 Stryker Vehicles a month and 35 Abrams Tanks a month. Next in the hiring line will be assembly line positions such as mechanics. The plant manager says how important the partnership with Ohio Means Jobs has been to their efforts.

Task Force Lima was set to get a plan in front of legislators about the Joint Systems Manufacture Center, until that was changed.

The group had been planning a drive-in to Columbus to show state politicians the importance of the tank plant and to keep advocating for it. Due to the Coronavirus those plans have been postponed. Task Force had drawn out and sent out surveys to the people they liked to invite, to see when to hold the event. That includes 190 suppliers in Ohio that work with JSMC. Mayor David Berger felt hearing from them would have be more impactful.

Task Force Lima is preparing to make their pitch to some high ranking officials on Capitol Hill. During the group's meeting, co-chair David Berger proposed a "fly-in" to Washington D.C. The group has not made a trip to the nation's capital in two years. It's where meetings are set up to help keep the tank plant running. Berger said the goal would be to achieve long term sustainment of the tank plant. Joint Systems Manufacturing Center has acquired many contracts and funding in recent years that has even allowed the growth of production and employment as of late.

An idea was tossed around about connecting schools with the Lima Tank Plant at the bi-monthly Task Force Lima meeting. Col. Joseph Zeis put the idea on the table after talking to different career tech schools and state colleges around Ohio. Zeis told the group these schools are looking for an employment pipeline for their welders, craftsmen and STEM students. Hank Kennedy of Joint Systems Manufacturing Center said that is a possibility. The plant is currently in a hiring process, but have found there is stiff competition in the economy right now. Kennedy said JSMC is already working with nearby Apollo Career Center.

On the heels of the presidential visit last week, Task Force Lima reconvened at the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center. Plant Director of Operations, Hank Kennedy, said the visit by President Donald Trump was "huge." Kennedy also spoke about production as the plant gets back to normal this week. He said as of late, Abrams tanks have been rolling out seven to eight a month and about 10 Stryker vehicles are produced a month.

Also at Task Force Lima's meeting was a special guest from Governor Mike DeWine's office. Newly appointed, senior advisor for aerospace and defense, Col. Joseph Zeis was invited back to Lima. He detailed to the task force his new duties from Governor DeWine and said he's here to assist JSMC in any way he can.