Workforce Development

The Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce is working closely with its members and partners in education to build a pipeline of future employees for businesses in the Toledo Region. Having well prepared students graduate from high school will help to make our region a preferred place for innovation and diverse talent. We want every student who completes their high school education to be prepared to enroll in some form of higher education, directly enter the workforce, or enlist in the military in service to their country.
 
Representatives from manufacturing, technology, construction trades, healthcare, financial services and others have taken part in our programs to answer questions and provide the latest information about the industries that call the Toledo Region home. Since 2015, over 150 businesses have been engaged with area school districts

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TRAIN - Toledo Region Academic & Industry Network Initiative

The Toledo Region Academic & Industry Network (TRAIN) is designed to meet the growing demand for career exploration experiences in the region through a streamlined application and matchmaking process. This allows the program to be customizable to meet the needs and availabilities of both businesses and school districts. Educators and employers can fill out the appropriate interest form and will be matched to create an engaging experience. After a “match” has been made, contact information will be shared between the business representative and educator to coordinate experience details.

An experience is an activity that exposes students to a specific career, company, or industry. An engaging experience can be a tour, presentation to a classroom, internship/apprenticeship, or serving on a district’s Business Advisory Council.
​TRAIN directly connects employers and educators to help increase awareness of current and future career opportunities that are available in the Toledo Region and to make sure that our education partners are preparing students to take advantage of those opportunities. TRAIN is about connecting and coordinating existing resources, not creating duplicative programs, in order to provide maximum exposure of opportunities to students and education professionals.

​Through TRAIN and other initiatives, the Chamber actively works to support workforce development efforts and career opportunities as part of the overall strategy to attract and retain talent in the Toledo Region. Our annual Morning Access: Education and Workforce  breakfast provides an opportunity for business and education leaders to connect in an informal business setting and hear from a featured speaker on current and relevant topics impacting both industry and education. 
 
If you are interested in learning more about TRAIN check out these FAQs. You can also reach out to Megan Stretavski at 419-243-8191 or megan.stretavski@toledochamber.com for questions about TRAIN or other workforce development initiatives.
Interested in getting involved with TRAIN? ​For more information, use the links below:
“Connecting our company to the future workforce in our community is another awesome opportunity provided from The Toledo Chamber. This was a powerful experience for both our company and the local schools. We need talented minds ready to tinker, work hard, and be proud of their abilities to work in skilled trades and manufacturing. This opportunity shared new possibilities of a future for those young individuals and allowed our employees to proudly showcase their talents.”

Matt Yarder
Organizational Leader
Yarder Manufacturing
Other resources:
Work Ready Lucas County
Lucas County Workforce Development Board
OhioMeansJobs
Ohio Bold: A Blueprint for Accelerating the Innovation Economy 
ReadyJob - Here's What Employers are Looking for in Terms of Employee Readiness
​ReadyJob - 7 Ways To Secure And Retain Talent 
Ohio Chamber A Dose of Reality for Employers Opioid Toolkit
Young Workers are a Valuable (and Often Overlooked) Asset