SALEM, Ohio – Jeff Magada, founder and executive director of Flying High Inc., said his organization wants to add value to the various services available to Columbiana County residents who need assistance with overcoming barriers to employment.
Representatives of local and regional economic development organizations, business leaders and local officials joined Flying High staff for a ribbon cutting – hosted by the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce – for the Columbiana County Professional Development Center.
The center, located at 2388 Southeast Blvd., is Flying High’s first center in Columbiana County. The nonprofit organization also provides integrated workforce development services from facilities in Youngstown and Warren, including to clients recovering from substance abuse and reentering society following incarceration.
“We believe that we can be a piece of the puzzle in helping people gain employment to the many jobs down here in Columbiana, and also add to their recovery-to-work and reentry-to-work, Magada said.
Flying High will aim to add local value in three ways, he said.
First, it will provide a walk-in environment for people to get connected to career and job opportunities, he said. Clients will receive career counseling and engage with case managers, who will work with them to set up a customized employment plan to help them address any barriers to employment they might face, such as lack of reliable transportation or inability to pass a drug test.
Second, Flying High staff will meet with area employers to understand their employment needs, both for skilled and nonskilled positions, and job developers will work with the companies to develop purposeful employment pathways to fill those openings, providing job candidates “with both the life and the technical skills that companies are looking for,” he said.
As part of that process, they also will “de-risk” those candidates, meaning that job candidates will not be presented to employers unless any barriers they might have to their maintaining the job are removed.
“Lastly, we want to add value to the community organizations in this community that have been doing the work for a long time by being, really, another tool in their arsenal so that they can help them and help their clients make their lives better,” he said.
Job training will not be provided at the Salem center but through various training companies in Columbiana County, he said, Candidates requiring training not available locally will be transported to one of Flying High’s Youngtown facilities.
Vocational pathways offered through the Youngstown center include carpentry, basic welding, advanced welding, certified nursing assistant, blueprint reading, fitting and chemical dependency counselor assistant, according to Abigail Roberts, workforce case manager at the Salem center.
“What we are going to do in this resource center is bring people who are committed to being on the path to recovery in and screen them for what their needs are going forward so that they could be successful,” Salem Mayor Cyndi Dickey said.
Salem, like other cities locally and across the United States, deals with issues such as substance use disorder, mental illness and homelessness, Dickey said. To help address those issues, the city secured a $398,000 grant from the One Ohio Recovery Foundation, funded through the nationwide opioid settlement, for the new center.
Funding also is being provided though a $500,000 Appalachian Regional Commission grant over three years, Magada said. The Salem center will have a staff of five personnel. He anticipates the new Columbiana County center will serve at least 300 clients within its first year.
“[Flying High’s] growth is a powerful testament to the life-changing work you do every day, preparing individuals for meaningful careers and helping to build stronger families, stronger communities and a stronger economy for our region,” said Alexa Sweeney Blackann, interim CEO of Lake to River Economic Development.
Lake to River’s mission to lead economic development efforts in the four-county region focuses on three areas, one of which, workforce development, aligns perfectly with Flying High’s work, she said.
“At the end of the day, available talent is what moves the needle for new business investments and for growing the companies we already have,” she said.
Flying High helped Livi Steel, a family-owned structural steel company in Warren, overcome challenges and “soar to new heights,” said Ashley Morrow, human resources/office manager. About six years ago, Livi Steel sought candidates to fill openings for welders, fitters and machine operators.
“We would find great candidates, but then we couldn’t figure out why we couldn’t ever keep people. And it was things like that they either didn’t have a vehicle or license or a home, and that makes it really difficult,” she said. Flying High not only found them good people to fill jobs but found people who would stay with the company, leading to lower turnover.
“Their expertise and dedication have been instrumental in transforming our hiring and onboarding processes, policies and protocols,” Morrow said. “Through Flying High’s tireless efforts, we’ve been able to recruit skilled employees, fill past and current job openings and find quality candidates who bring valuable experience and education to our team.”
Alicia Johnston, executive director of the Salem Area Chamber, offered an enthusiastic welcome to the organization, which is “a beacon of hope and second chances for individuals who have faced challenges,” she said.
“This organization is not only transforming lives, it is also strengthening the fabric of this entire community. We are proud to welcome a company whose mission is rooted in compassion, dignity and empowerment,” she said.
Pictured at top: From left are Alicia Johnston, Jeff Magada, Alexa Sweeney Blackann and Mayor Cyndi Dickey.