YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Northeast Ohio Correctional Center recently awarded $10,000 to the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber Foundation to support its strategic efforts in growing the Mahoning Valley’s workforce.
NEOCC, located in Hubbard, and its parent company, CoreCivic, provide programs such as educational, vocational, substance abuse and faith-based offerings that help inmates develop the skills and values they need to be successful when they leave prison.
“We are teaching those at our facility career skills so they will be ready for the workforce when they’re released. This will help bridge the gap for unemployment and provide work opportunities to individuals, thereby encouraging them to stay in our community,” said Doug Fender, NEOCC warden.
“We are pleased to support the Regional Chamber to help strengthen and grow the Valley’s workforce and ensure our partners are aware of the training and skills that are being offered at NEOCC so that we can start connecting them to our local employment,” Fender said.
Feder said he is also passionate about the Regional Chamber’s strategy to increase housing inventory. He said he struggles to recruit talent from outside the area to fill open positions at NEOCC due to the shortage.
“We’re fortunate to have a good corporate neighbor like CoreCivic in our community,” said Guy Coviello, Regional Chamber president and CEO. “They make sure that a high volume of returning citizens have GEDs. They provide programs dedicated to helping released individuals lead successful lives as employed, taxpaying residents.”
Coviello said the donation will help the Regional Chamber “commit vital resources toward helping our businesses have enough workers so they’re competitive in their respective industries.”
Pictured at top: From left are Guy Coviello; Christina Hittle, human resources manager; Doug Fender; and Joe Merlo, director of member engagement.