MVMC Receives Industry Sector Partnership Grant
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition is among 26 recipients in the fourth round of the state’s Industry Sector Partnership awards.
Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, director of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation, on Monday announced the selected partnerships are awarded a combined $5 million in Industry Sector Partnership grants. The program supports partnerships that help bring Ohioans into the workforce pipeline while meeting the needs of job creators and the local economy.
The awarded partnerships will focus on building a workforce in multiple in-demand industry sectors, including manufacturing, transportation and health care. The Manufacturers Coalition received $250,000.
“Today’s awards set a record for the most partnerships created or expanded through the grant in a single round, creating more opportunities for communities and industries to grow that workforce pipeline,” Husted said. “It’s important that we encourage collaboration throughout communities so we can train our students with the skills businesses in their regions need and expose them to opportunities available in their own backyards.”
Industry Sector Partnerships are designed to develop regional workforce strategies, with the goal of driving collaboration between local businesses, education and training providers and community stakeholders. The grants will help support the operations of both new and existing Industry Sector Partnerships around the state.
“With these grants, we’re able to foster robust workforce pipelines that better meet the evolving demands of our industry partners,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development. “Not only are we strengthening the bridge between education and employment, but we’re empowering communities to cultivate strategies that will ensure a skilled workforce for generations to come.”
Ohio has invested $12.5 million in Industry Sector Partnerships over the past four years. The first three rounds of the program awarded 27 partnerships a total of $7.5 million. Monday’s awards double the amount of funding ever awarded in a single round.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
