Fellow buckeye,
I don't think alder is common to Ohio so I doubt you will find any.
Based on your post, I'm assuming you're building a bolt-on-body Fender
style. Although not typical of a Fender, I suggest try using local
soft maple which is common, available, and similar to alder. As a
drummer and guitar player, I believe the maple is more "bright" than
alder due to a higher spcefic gravity. I also think 8/4 soft maple
will be easy to find cheap.
Sam