| Media Alert Monday, Aug. 8, 2022 |
The Northwest Ohio Manufacturing Alliance (NOMA), funds are part of a $23.5 million grant awarded to the Ohio Manufacturers Association for a 3-year workforce development action plan focused on recruiting and upskilling manufacturing workers across the state.
Toledo, Ohio (August 8, 2022) – The Northwest Ohio Manufacturing Alliance (NOMA), a program of the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, is in line to receive up to $930,000 over the next three years as part of The Ohio Manufacturers' Association’s (OMA) $23,492,808 award from the Economic Development Administration’s American Rescue Plan Act Good Jobs Challenge program, which was announced August 3rd.
OMA is the lead applicant and system lead entity of one of 32 programs throughout the country to receive a portion of $500 million in federal funds aimed at getting Americans back to work by strengthening workforce partnerships that lead to good-paying jobs.
NOMA is among OMA’s network of manufacturing industry sector partnerships throughout the state that will receive funding from this grant to carry out specific recruiting and upskilling components of OMA’s workforce development action plan in the Toledo Region.
“This investment in combination with the guidance and best practice sharing with OMA and peer industry sector partnerships will have a tremendous impact in our region for growing our local trained and credentialed manufacturing workforce,” said Sara Swisher, vice president of talent and workforce at the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce.
50,000+ annual job openings over next 36 months
More than 1,600 manufacturers comprise OMA’s statewide ISP network, including 120 that submitted letters of commitment to source new hires from this initiative. In total, these employers indicated a demand for 25,000+ hires in the next five years at an annual wage of $17.60/hour, which reflects the prevailing wages for the initiative’s targeted in-demand occupations of machining, production, welding, industrial maintenance, and automation and robotics.
In total, these targeted occupations are projected to have 50,000+ annual openings and 150,000 openings in the next 36 months in Ohio.
Targeting underrepresented populations across Ohio’s communities
OMA’s initiative prioritizes on Ohio’s 32 Appalachian communities, the eight largest urban counties, and underrepresented groups among the manufacturing workforce including people of color, women, veterans and returning citizens.
“We project 1,000 Ohio employers to engage in hiring, retaining or advancing a participant served by this initiative,” said Ryan Augsburger, OMA president. “Our goal is to enroll 6,000 participants across the state in one or more training programs that leads to a job offer or upskilling opportunity at their incumbent employer. Added emphasis will be on reaching job seekers from underrepresented members of our communities.”
In response to regional needs and the needs of the target populations, the ISPs will be led to execute an OMA-developed, evidence-based Entry-Level Learn-and Earn (ELLE) model to prepare a future workforce. The strategy, which gives employers the opportunity to build a workforce trained to their specific needs, includes recruiting, pre-screening, preparing job skills training, onboarding, and ongoing support and job coaching components.
“Ultimately, the Good Jobs Challenge grant will lay the groundwork for exponential, ongoing impacts beyond the 36-month grant period by operationalizing sustainable new training programs, formalizing referral partnerships, accelerating ISPs’ momentum, and building underrepresented communities’ interest in manufacturing careers,” Augsburger said.
The workforce issue demands an all-hands-on-deck solution. From fellow manufacturers, education partners, workforce professionals, or just someone who believes in the potential of the Toledo Region, we need your help. Contact Sara Swisher, vice president of talent and workforce, at 567-420-1239 or sara.swisher@toledochamber.com.
OMA is the lead applicant and system lead entity of one of 32 programs throughout the country to receive a portion of $500 million in federal funds aimed at getting Americans back to work by strengthening workforce partnerships that lead to good-paying jobs.
NOMA is among OMA’s network of manufacturing industry sector partnerships throughout the state that will receive funding from this grant to carry out specific recruiting and upskilling components of OMA’s workforce development action plan in the Toledo Region.
“This investment in combination with the guidance and best practice sharing with OMA and peer industry sector partnerships will have a tremendous impact in our region for growing our local trained and credentialed manufacturing workforce,” said Sara Swisher, vice president of talent and workforce at the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce.
50,000+ annual job openings over next 36 months
More than 1,600 manufacturers comprise OMA’s statewide ISP network, including 120 that submitted letters of commitment to source new hires from this initiative. In total, these employers indicated a demand for 25,000+ hires in the next five years at an annual wage of $17.60/hour, which reflects the prevailing wages for the initiative’s targeted in-demand occupations of machining, production, welding, industrial maintenance, and automation and robotics.
In total, these targeted occupations are projected to have 50,000+ annual openings and 150,000 openings in the next 36 months in Ohio.
Targeting underrepresented populations across Ohio’s communities
OMA’s initiative prioritizes on Ohio’s 32 Appalachian communities, the eight largest urban counties, and underrepresented groups among the manufacturing workforce including people of color, women, veterans and returning citizens.
“We project 1,000 Ohio employers to engage in hiring, retaining or advancing a participant served by this initiative,” said Ryan Augsburger, OMA president. “Our goal is to enroll 6,000 participants across the state in one or more training programs that leads to a job offer or upskilling opportunity at their incumbent employer. Added emphasis will be on reaching job seekers from underrepresented members of our communities.”
In response to regional needs and the needs of the target populations, the ISPs will be led to execute an OMA-developed, evidence-based Entry-Level Learn-and Earn (ELLE) model to prepare a future workforce. The strategy, which gives employers the opportunity to build a workforce trained to their specific needs, includes recruiting, pre-screening, preparing job skills training, onboarding, and ongoing support and job coaching components.
“Ultimately, the Good Jobs Challenge grant will lay the groundwork for exponential, ongoing impacts beyond the 36-month grant period by operationalizing sustainable new training programs, formalizing referral partnerships, accelerating ISPs’ momentum, and building underrepresented communities’ interest in manufacturing careers,” Augsburger said.
The workforce issue demands an all-hands-on-deck solution. From fellow manufacturers, education partners, workforce professionals, or just someone who believes in the potential of the Toledo Region, we need your help. Contact Sara Swisher, vice president of talent and workforce, at 567-420-1239 or sara.swisher@toledochamber.com.
About the Northwest Ohio Manufacturing Alliance
An industry led, community supported partnership that strengthens the manufacturing sector and connects our residents to meaningful careers. Industry Sector Partnerships are a partnership of businesses from the same industry in a shared labor market that works with education, workforce development, economic development, and community organizations to address the common needs of the industry. The Northwest Ohio Manufacturing Alliance is a program of the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce. Visit nomapartners.org for more information.
About Ohio Manufacturers’ Association
The Ohio Manufacturers' Association is Ohio's largest statewide business association comprised solely of manufacturers. Established in 1910, the OMA's mission is protect and grow Ohio manufacturing. It represents manufacturers of all sizes in every subsector of the industry. Manufacturing is Ohio’s largest economic sector, employing approximately 675,000 Ohioans and contributing more than $127 billion annually to the economy. Visit ohiomfg.com, or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
About the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce
The Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, serving a membership of over 2,000 businesses, solves critical business challenges in order to create vibrant economic opportunities for all in our region.
An industry led, community supported partnership that strengthens the manufacturing sector and connects our residents to meaningful careers. Industry Sector Partnerships are a partnership of businesses from the same industry in a shared labor market that works with education, workforce development, economic development, and community organizations to address the common needs of the industry. The Northwest Ohio Manufacturing Alliance is a program of the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce. Visit nomapartners.org for more information.
About Ohio Manufacturers’ Association
The Ohio Manufacturers' Association is Ohio's largest statewide business association comprised solely of manufacturers. Established in 1910, the OMA's mission is protect and grow Ohio manufacturing. It represents manufacturers of all sizes in every subsector of the industry. Manufacturing is Ohio’s largest economic sector, employing approximately 675,000 Ohioans and contributing more than $127 billion annually to the economy. Visit ohiomfg.com, or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
About the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce
The Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, serving a membership of over 2,000 businesses, solves critical business challenges in order to create vibrant economic opportunities for all in our region.
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