by Ken Blackwell
In the past, certain presidential administrations created layers of regulatory hurdles for companies to clear before they could complete mergers and acquisitions and invest in American manufacturing. The Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, for their part, made it much more difficult in the past for companies to acquire complementary businesses and build for the long term.
Today, however, while President Trump encourages businesses to invest more in American manufacturing, his administration is pairing that initiative with a new regulatory landscape that is far more conducive to mergers and acquisitions.
In response, corporations are making noticeable efforts to invest, grow, and expand in the United States. According to BCG, despite geopolitical tensions and ever-changing tariff policies, the total value of mergers and acquisitions in the Americas during the first nine months of 2025 amounted to $1.26 trillion, which is a 26% increase when compared to the same time frame in 2024. One of this year’s recent acquisitions is uniquely beneficial for Ohio.
In May of this year, Kimberly-Clark, the maker of brands like Huggies, Kleenex, and Cottonelle, announced plans to invest $2 billion over the next five years in their North American manufacturing operations. That planned investment includes a proposed $800 million facility in Warren, OH that will create nearly 500 new jobs. In October, Kimberly-Clark went a step further and proposed an additional $160 million distribution center as part of the project.
While Kimberly-Clark invests in manufacturing right here in Ohio, the company is also acquiring Kenvue, the maker of brands like Aveeno, BAND-AID, Listerine, Neutrogena, Zyrtec, Neosporin, and Motrin. Now, as Kimberly-Clark leverages its capabilities to bolster Kenvue’s operations, and as the companies merge supply chains, the new $800 million facility in Warren will be a center of the action.
These developments are great news for Ohio’s economy, and we have President Trump’s regulatory landscape to thank for them. At the local level, investments like these are transformative for communities. They create stable, good paying jobs, and revitalize the local economies of surrounding neighborhoods. At the national level, the new Kimberly-Clark plant in Ohio will be a symbol of America’s refusal to rely on China for consumer health products. We are investing in manufacturing them domestically instead.
This deal is also good news for consumers. Combining the efforts of companies like Kimberly-Clark and Kenvue results in innovation, which in turn results in better products sold at lower prices. As affordability is a concern for all Americans now, bringing the prices down on the classic American staples produced by Kimberly-Clark and Kenvue will be a win for everyone.
As today’s regulatory landscape continues to clear the path for business to grow, deals like Kimberly-Clark’s acquisition of Kenvue remind us that America’s private sector is our greatest asset. And now, Ohio is a poster child for President Trump’s vision of strengthening American manufacturing and encouraging businesses to grow.
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Ken Blackwell served on the Trump Transition Team in 2016 and 2024. He has served as Mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio Treasurer and Secretary of State. He is an adviser to the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C.
