2022 Year in Review
The SCMWDP received $155,000 in grants in 2022 for workforce development in promoting manufacturing as a viable career pathway. Grants received in 2022 included:
- $100,000 Industry Sector Partnership Spark grant from the state
- $25,000 from the Stark Port Authority for Workforce Development and Administration as the required match from the state Industry Sector Partnership grant
- $30,000 from the Ohio Manufacturer’s Association (OMA) for the Defense Manufacturers Community for evaluation of existing local training programs that comply with modern manufacturing and determination of certifications needed and wanted by local manufacturers that are part of Industry 4.0.
Initiatives in support of Career Navigation and Outreach priorities in promoting manufacturing as a viable career pathway, launched by the SCMWDP in 2022 include:
- Coordinated and launched a middle school “Maker’s Camp” which included hands-on activities and tours of manufacturing plants. We collaborated with TomTod Ideas who ran the camp, provided counselors and the curriculum. Certificates of completion were awarded from Sen. Sherrod Brown’s office to the 25 participants. Participation was free of charge and included custom T-shirts. Pre and post surveys of the participants showed positive change of mindsets for both the middle school students and the counselors to consider manufacturing as a viable career pathway;
- Coordinated and executed a bus tour of 4 manufacturing plants for 11 local non-profit career navigators who participate in the Career Connect program through Strengthening Stark;
- Coordinated and executed a bus tour of 4 manufacturing plants for 34 Stark County middle-high school educators from 11 different school districts. Educators were awarded certificates of contact hours to apply to professional development hours needed for teaching certifications. Pre and post surveys of the participants showed positive change of mind sets for the educators and counselors to promote manufacturing as a viable career pathway to their students;
- Coordinated planning and execution of Manufacturing Day (#MadeInStark) which gave tours of local manufacturing plants to local high school juniors and seniors – 250 students from 7 school districts and 15 employers participated. Feedback from the employers, educators and students was very positive to consider manufacturing as a viable career pathway;
- Hosted 3 free lunch and learns for manufacturing employers. Topics included Active Shooter Policies, Unfit Conditions of Employees in reference to Ohio legalizing medical marijuana, and current National Labor Review Board policies;
- Helped coordinate a TeamNEO forum with Stark manufacturing employers regarding integration of technology and modern manufacturing;
- Established a system of manufacturing centric grass roots outreach, vetting, basic job training, referrals and job placement for individuals that were under/unemployed, minority and/or part of the re-entry population. More than 70 individuals were placed with the talent pipeline system with the majority still employed in manufacturing. A group of 8 employers committed to the referral and potential hiring system. The National Center for Urban Solutions was the SCMWDP consultant that established this manufacturing centric grass roots outreach and talent pipeline system;
- Representatives from SCMWDP served on panels at four conferences regarding efforts to place under/unemployed into manufacturing careers. Conferences included the National DEI in Manufacturing, State Manufacturing Extension Partnership, OMA Workforce Committee and EXCEL Workforce Conference;
- The SCMWDP was recognized through a “Notable in Manufacturing” from Cleveland Crain’s Business magazine
- The SCMWDP was part of OMA’s team in preparing the grant application for the Economic Development Agency’s Good Jobs Challenge competitive grant. OMA was notified in 2022 of the $23.5 million award, of which $930,000 will be allocated to the SCMWDP for workforce development over the course of three years.
- The SCMWDP is one of 13 manufacturing industry sector partnerships that are designated as a sub-awardee. The grant is allocated for the talent pipeline system to conduct outreach, vet candidates, provide basic job training, provide technical training, job placement and provide 12-month career coaching services.