< Previous68 OHIO BUSINESS GROWTH GUIDE TALENT Ohio companies can explore a number of resources to strengthen their workforce. Photo: Getty ImagesOHIO BUSINESS GROWTH GUIDE 69 ears, months, weeks and days that lead up to a company’s commitment toward a new facility or expansion investment are the product of strategic teamwork. Multi-million to multi-billion-dollar decisions are not made lightly and are dependent on a location that supports current needs and future goals. When powerhouses like Intel and Joby Aviation chose to invest in Ohio, they were met with an economic development team fit to turn hopes into reality. While the state’s central location, business climate, infrastructure, and well-established universities and colleges speak for themselves, having the support of an organization such as JobsOhio goes a long way in sealing the deal — especially in terms of driving the ideal candidate toward a high- quality position. Catered to You Intel’s $20 billion semiconductor manufacturing facility and Joby’s $477.5 million electric air taxi manufacturing facility investments will result in the creation of 5,000 highly skilled jobs over the next five years. Through JobsOhio’s Talent Acquisition Services (TAS) program, while those companies focus on getting operations in place, a dedicated team behind the scenes crafts an individualized talent acquisition, development and retention plan. “JobsOhio’s ability to assist a company to understand the market and navigate the ecosystem is critically important,” says JobsOhio Senior Managing Director of Talent Kristi Clouse. “The TAS incentive plays a significant role in providing the confidence to these large- scale investments that a dedicated team will stay with them for several years after the groundbreaking to help them attract, develop and retain the talent they need for business growth now and in the future.” Instead of offering a grant or loan to assist hiring needs, a talent team made up of over 35 experts strategizes with a company and acts on their behalf to secure skilled talent. As no two companies operate the same, each service yields a unique approach. In the case of Joby, the team will develop a sustainable process for attracting, engaging, selecting, and training 2,000 new employees. “JobsOhio’s private structure, along Ohio’s talent pool is enriched by industry and institutional collaboration. by ALEXIS ELMORE Y WE WORK BETTER TOGETHER70 OHIO BUSINESS GROWTH GUIDE with our sustainable and flexible funding source, enables us to provide a customized talent solution tailored to the company’s most significant challenges and gives us the ability to be nimble and agile,” says Clouse. Meanwhile, working to fill Intel’s initial 3,000 jobs, JobsOhio works with Intel on recruitment marketing and events for various roles, including technicians. To aid its future talent pipeline, Intel brought a $50 million Ohio Semiconductor Education and Research Program, working directly with universities and colleges in the state on new research and educational programs. “The educational partners from K-12, career technical centers, colleges and universities play a vital role for employers. They serve shorter-term needs with their current student base but are also seen as long-term partners to sustain the talent pipeline in the future,” says Clouse. “Academic partners throughout the state come together to align curriculum, equipment and faculty to deliver the talent needed by employers. Meanwhile, JobsOhio takes on the role of facilitator and advocates for the employer.” Those are just two examples of new job opportunities set to hit Ohio. Site Selection’s 2023 Governor’s Cups ranking named Ohio No. 3 in the number of new projects, as Ohio secured 462 qualified corporate facility projects last year. These projects range across the state’s 10 target industries, which include logistics and distribution, food and agribusiness, automotive, healthcare, financial services, energy and chemicals, advanced manufacturing, technology, aerospace, aviation, and military and federal. Extensive history in each of these industries has solidified a workforce that has increased productivity for over a decade. Ohio also houses the third largest manufacturing workforce in the nation. Photo: Getty ImagesTechnological advancements to traditional operations bring the need for new training or upskilling programs to tackle safety and increase effi ciency on the production fl oor. So, while not every business will seek Talent Acquisition Services, receiving cash back on training measures is a welcomed plus. Skills Building On Us JobsOhio’s Workforce Grant caters to companies within Ohio’s top industries looking to boost their talent or get new workers up to speed. To be considered, eligible projects must create new jobs and provide training over an agreed- upon timeline, which is based on a project’s anticipated completion date. Grant amounts will vary and are based on job creation, payroll, fi xed-asset investment commitment, project return on investment and the project’s location. For both smaller and larger target candidates, grant funding will act as a reimbursement- based incentive for the costs of training current employees in the following categories: safety training, product knowledge, quality management, on-the-job training, technical training, domestic and international travel costs, materials and equipment. However, the workforce grant may not be used in ways such as paying for an employee’s college or GED education, soft skills training, travel time, food and beverage purchases, entertainment or membership dues. Companies may not use this grant in combination with any training paid for or required by outside public agencies or departments, nor can funding be used for training within profi t-oriented courses. New or existing companies aiming to grow their capabilities in the state can engage with the JobsOhio team to fi nd the perfect avenue to invest in the future of their talent. ompanies in eastern Ohio don’t have to look far for skilled talent. Youngstown State University (YSU) is leading the charge in cultivating a diverse and dynamic workforce through its innovative programs. From doctoral, graduate, and four- and two-year degrees to workforce certifi cations and credentials, YSU’s emphasis on industry-infl uenced curriculum and strategic partnerships not only addresses current workforce demands but also prepares students for the evolving job landscape. This collaborative approach between academia and industry is essential in ensuring a continuous pipeline of qualifi ed workers for the region and beyond. “If we don’t know from businesses and industries what their workforce needs are, then how can we know what type of workforce to put out?” says YSU President Bill Johnson. “We’re closely integrated with the business and industry community to make sure we understand what their workforce needs are and then we are turning out a highly educated, motivated set of graduates that can meet those workforce demands.” To support these eff orts, YSU has launched numerous workforce education and innovation initiatives, beginning with the opening of the Excellence Training Center (ETC) at Kolhi Hall in 2021. Located on campus, the ETC, which operates under the STEM College, houses over $10 million of advanced manufacturing equipment for workforce training, research and commercial projects. 72 INVESTING IN OHIO INVESTMENT PROFILE: YOUNGSTOWN STATE UNIVERSITY Why companies are turning to YSU for their workforce training needs. by LINDSAY LOPP C YOUNGSTOWN STATE UNIVERSITY: YOUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ALLY Located in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is one of Eastern Ohio’s strongest talent engines. Photo courtesy of Youngstown State UniversityINVESTING IN OHIO 73 “We do robotics, specifi cally FANUC robotics training, some universal robotics training, we do Rockwell Automation, Allen Bradley programmable logic controller training, and we do industrial maintenance, additive manufacturing and machining; these are the fi ve main categories of training that we do here in the center hands-on,” says the ETC’s Director Jackie Ruller. “Besides running the ETC, we also have the IT workforce accelerator; we have programs like 5G readiness, Cisco, and CompTIA. We cover the gamut in that workforce umbrella of advanced manufacturing and IT.” Outside of advanced manufacturing and IT, YSU also off ers the Data Mine, an on-campus learning community in partnership with Purdue University where students in any major study the science of data and apply their knowledge to real world company- sponsored projects; the Williamson Innovation Park, a 162-acre open air research park where YSU students as well as area K-12 students can explore multiple STEM projects and conduct research in engineering, biosciences, aviation and more; and the Online Skills Accelerator, which provides individuals with industry- recognized credentials, including OSHA-training. In addition to arming students with in-demand skills, YSU’s STEM college partners directly with companies to connect them with apprentices and employees and create tailored training for students and even their current workforce. Steel fabricator NLMK Pennsylvania was originally going to build its own training center, but following a visit to the ETC, they decided to scrap those plans and send their workers to YSU for upskilling instead. “We basically set up a program for them,” explains Ruller. “They wanted to train their production technicians to be electrical hands. So, we looked at all the courses in our industrial maintenance catalog, and they chose which ones they wanted them to do. We created an eighteen-month program where they are here in the center.” For this project, the curriculum consisted of online work, instructor- led lectures, and hands-on training utilizing ETC’s state-of-the-art equipment. In between the courses, the trainees also participated in on- the-job training at their company. Following the cohort’s graduation from the program in October 2023, NLMK put the skills they had garnered to the test. “They all passed with fl ying colors,” says Ruller. “NLMK was so happy with the training that they started two more cohorts; one was electrical, and the other was mechanical. So, we have two diff erent groups coming through now. That’s just one company sending all these people through our industrial maintenance training.” Pioneering Innovation YSU’s determination to help businesses advance their enterprise branches has led to revolutionary research projects such as Foundry 4.0. Funded by the Defense Logistics Agency, the ETC’s automated foundry is strengthening the supply chain by teaching small to medium-sized foundries throughout the country how to implement these technologies into their facilities. “It’s a way to help these companies be safer, be competitive,” says Ruller. “They’re all very overwhelmed and short-staff ed. It takes three or four people to do a pour in a foundry but, if you have an automated foundry, where the robots do all the work, you just need one person to program the robot.” In helping these companies transition to Industry 4.0 technologies, YSU also off ers its workforce training expertise to educate workers on these new practices. Alongside on-site courses, the ETC is currently developing online webinars that will be posted to the University’s website. “It’s the perfect project that aligns with what we do,” says Ruller. “Higher education has got to be on its toes, fl exible, agile, adaptable, and ready to move in this direction or that direction in order to meet the workforce needs of our dynamic economy,” adds President Johnson. “It needs to be a win-win for both sides of the equation, for businesses and industries that rely on us to create and educate their workforce and for the students, partners and stakeholders that are sending students to universities to get educated.” This Investment Profi le was prepared under the auspices of Youngstown State University. For more information, please contact Youngstown State University’s Special Assistant for Government Affairs Sarah Keeler at skeeler@ysu.edu. At YSU’s Excellence Training Center (ETC), students in various degree and certifi cation programs are gaining valuable hands-on experience in high-demand skillsets. Photo courtesy of Youngstown State University74 OHIO BUSINESS GROWTH GUIDE HIGHER EDUCATION hen it comes to higher education offerings, Ohio doesn’t miss. Eager students across the state’s 14 universities, spanning 24 regional branch campuses, and 23 community colleges are pioneering new educational experiences and gaining invaluable skills and knowledge alongside the state’s top researchers. A network of national organizations and leading industry corporates are finding themselves turning to institutions throughout Ohio to tackle pressing challenges. The Ohio State University (OSU) showcases this sentiment well, having drawn in $1.36 billion in federal research funding in 2023 alone and ranking as the No. 7 top public university in the nation. For perspective, that is more than $55 million more research funding than Harvard University and $2 million ahead of University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in the same year, according to the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics. Ohio’s higher education institutions lead in new approaches to workforce development. W by ALEXIS ELMORE THE TALENT INDUSTRIES WANT AND NEED Photo courtesy of The Ohio State UniversityTrust in the capabilities of institutions such as OSU translates not only to new innovative research measures, but additionally in how companies offer to shape updated curriculum or supply new equipment for current students. Consistent contact with local companies has allowed university faculty to become privy to how operations run today and where they’d like to be in the future, and it starts with talent. When OSU’s Mansfield campus opened doors to its newly renovated $100 million Mansfield STEM labs in February 2024, it marked a new beginning in how students will build the most in-demand skill sets for STEM and advanced manufacturing industries. The past several years have been spent transforming 19,000 sq. ft. of lab space in Conard Hall, targeting the Charter Next Generation Programmable Logic Controller Lab and the Richland County Foundation Connected Smart Manufacturing Lab. “The labs will provide students access to the hands-on learning, the experiential learning that they need to apply what they’re learning in the classroom to real-world applications,” says OSU College of Engineering Dean Ayanna Howard. “As a resource, this is a real asset. Students are learning what they need to be very productive from the day they graduate.” Within the next few months the renewed Mechanical Processes Lab, supported by the Gorman- Rupp Pump Company, will join the additional lab offerings. At the same time, OSU will announce new investments for collaborative and industrial robots to expand technological capacity. “State-of-the-art lab equipment at 30% lower tuition cost, plus drastically reduced lab fees compared to Ohio State University’s Columbus campus, promotes unparalleled access to next-gen level knowledge and fulfills the workforce needs of industries such as manufacturing and health care across the state,” OSU Mansfield Interim Dean & Director Dr. Eric Anderman. This new beginning aims to address needs such as higher technical skills for applied engineers, next-generation technological know-how, business and leadership skills and embedded industry certifications. It also introduced the Biology and Engineering Technology Bachelor’s Program on Mansfield’s campus, which provides students with hands-on mechanical and electrical engineering lab experience and industry connections from their first day until graduation. “We are thrilled to celebrate the first cohort of students who attended on the Mansfield campus, are graduating this May with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology, and now have the skills they need to be competitive in high-growth industries,” says OSU President Walter Carter Jr. “Nearly three-quarters of all Buckeye graduates plan to call Ohio home and they help the state compete in an innovative and global economy.” Paving & Paying the Way By the fall of 2024, Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) will begin distributing more than $1.2 million in scholarship funding to students pursuing a certificate or degree within the college’s nursing or health care programs. The funding will span five years and was made possible through a $612,039 award from the Ohio Department of Education’s Choose Ohio First Scholarship, which is specific to students in STEM programs. To expand this opportunity, COTC chose to up the ante with $612,040 of its own funding. “Our desire was to significantly amplify the results of the Choose Ohio First scholarship because of the focus on health care fields and the enormous demand in this area. By leveraging other scholarship funding, it will have the effect of doubling the impact for students,” says COTC President John M. Berry. Students within Nursing and Allied Health degree fields like Diagnostic Medical Sonograph, Rad Tech and Surgical Tech represent 76 OHIO BUSINESS GROWTH GUIDE Lt. Governor Jon Husted speaks with an Ohio State student about the new Conard Hall facilities. Photo courtesy of The Ohio State University60% of COTC graduates. The college’s low tuition costs and tailored support have drawn students from all over the state to Newark for health care studies, resulting in significant pass rates. Now eligible students within those same nursing and health care programs have the chance to receive up to $2,782 per semester. COTC plans to introduce a new associate’s degree program for respiratory therapy, which will also benefit from scholarship funding. Berry shares that in the first year COTC estimates 15 to 20 students will be awarded, with plans to double the amount of eligible students the following school year. “These fields are in high demand in our region and nationally, and we felt it was a perfect time to pursue the Choose Ohio First Grant to not only assist students with the cost of their education but also to provide a great marketing push to encourage students to consider these in-demand fields of study,” says Berry. On the Case Various cancer treatments, underground power lines, genetic mutation, artificial intelligence and “live” joint replacements reflect just a few areas of ongoing research making headlines at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) since the start of 2024. On any given day, one can find the Cleveland-based private research institution sharing news of its latest life-saving research initiative, often supported by a healthy dose of federal funding. The R&D that continues to take place on the 198-year-old campus is not to be understated, as it is set to shift our understanding and approach to everyday challenges. Industry leaders like Microsoft know this well, having looked to CWRU for more than a decade to pioneer ways in which a student’s education can benefit from use of augmented reality technologies. A partnership far from artificial itself has new plans to explore Next >