SEPTEMBER 1 -- Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted, Director of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation, today announced the fourth round of the Industry Sector Partnership (ISP) Grant opportunity. The program funds partnerships that help prepare Ohioans for the workforce while meeting the needs of job creators and local economies.

For this round, $5 million is available for new and existing Industry Sector Partnerships, as funded through Ohio’s Fiscal Year 2024-2025 operating budget. This is double the amount of funding available last fiscal year for partnerships.

“Our existing Industry Sector Partnerships are effectively uniting educators and businesses, strengthening the workforce in communities throughout Ohio," said Lt. Governor Husted. "The recently approved state operating budget has enabled us to broaden the reach of these partnerships to additional communities within Ohio. This expansion will result in an expanded list of opportunities for Ohioans to concentrate on preparing for the growing number of high-paying jobs that lie ahead."

Industry Sector Partnerships are designed to develop workforce strategies specific to a given region of the state or industry sector to drive collaboration between local businesses, education and training providers, and community stakeholders. ISPs create and implement workforce strategies that enhance economic growth in all corners of the state.

“Industry Sector Partnerships put employers in the driver's seat, ensuring the system is truly demand-driven and resulting in better outcomes for individuals,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development. “By continuing to advance adaptable workforce solutions, we’re further positioning Ohio as a leader in productivity and a great place to grow your business.”

Earlier this year, the third round of the Industry Sector Partnership Grant program awarded 13 partnerships for a total of $2.45 million. Since the start of the program, a total of $7.5 million has been awarded to 27 unique partnerships. These partnerships have supported industries including manufacturing, information technology, healthcare, construction, and more.

The application period for the fourth round begins September 1, 2023, and closes September 29, 2023, at 3 p.m.

To apply and learn more about the Industry Sector Partnership Grant program, visit Workforce.Ohio.gov/ISP.

SEPTEMBER 1 -- On Aug. 29, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik announced the availability of approximately $111 million to support Ohio’s tech-based companies.

Two new funds – the Ohio Early Stage Focus Fund and Ohio Venture Fund – will help increase the amount of early-stage capital invested in Ohio’s technology-based companies, accelerate the growth of high-potential companies, and create a climate that supports the development, retention, and attraction of more of these companies in the state.

• The Ohio Early Stage Focus Fund will provide capital to professionally managed investment funds to support early-stage technology companies that are woman- or minority-owned or based in an area that has been underserved by venture capital. Organizations and private investment firms are eligible to apply for $1 million - $5 million of the more than $36 million available. More information can be found at ohio.gov/EarlyStageFocusFund.
• The Ohio Venture Fund will provide investment capital to professionally managed investment funds to support Ohio technology companies with early-stage capital through Series A.  Organizations and private investment firms are eligible to apply for $5 million - $10 million of the $75 million available. More information can be found at ohio.gov/VentureFund.

These new programs are part of the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) Venture Capital Program.

JULY 24 -- (from Rick Carfagna, Ohio Chamber of Commerce Senior Vice President of Governmental Affairs) As the fiscal year drew to a close on June 30, the Ohio Legislature finalized the two-year, $191 billion state operating budget which was then signed and enacted by Governor Mike DeWine. The culmination of this months-long process involved countless hours of review, research, discussion, meetings, and advocacy by the Ohio Chamber of Commerce’s Government Affairs team.

Throughout our budget conversations with Chamber members and policymakers, our driving force has continued to be our Blueprint for Ohio’s Economic Future. The Blueprint is a constructive look at policy areas where Ohio can better capitalize on opportunities and position itself as a leader in the coming decade.

We applaud the DeWine Administration, members of House and Senate Leadership, and both legislative chambers for providing numerous investments in this budget to make Ohio a safe and vibrant destination to live, work, study, raise a family and operate a business.

Of the hundreds of measures contained within the new state operating budget, we wish to highlight a handful the OCC fought for both aligning with our Blueprint and among our top policy priorities for this General Assembly:

JobsOhio Extension

A major initiative the OCC both proposed and facilitated was an amendment to extend JobsOhio’s liquor franchise by 15 years. JobsOhio currently has 15 years remaining on its original 25-year franchise, and this extension will equip JobsOhio with increased capacity to compete for more economic opportunities, longer-term agreements, and more aggressive incentives. Under this language, the state and JobsOhio will now enter into an extension agreement which must then be approved by the State Controlling Board.

Age Extension for Medicaid Buy-In for Workers with Disabilities (MBIWD) Program

This was an OCC-proposed amendment inserted early in the budget process by the Ohio House, which eliminates a benefits cliff forcing able-bodied Ohioans with developmental disabilities to retire prematurely at age 65. Lifting this age cap will now allow disabled Ohioans 65 and older to continue working and earning a living, while paying a monthly amount to receive their needed Medicaid coverage.

Senate Bill 1/House Bill 12

The budget includes this OCC priority legislation, which restructures both the Ohio Department of Education and State Board of Education to provide stronger emphasis on workforce skills and career readiness. Under SB 1, the Department of Education will become a state-level agency called the Department of Education and Workforce (DEW). We are especially excited to see career tech finally elevated to the same level as traditional K-12, as we need to prioritize both to help our youth reach personal fulfillment while equipping them with the necessary skill sets for our modern workforce.

Innovation Hubs

Ohio’s original Innovation Districts have incentivized new research and development, created tens of thousands of new jobs and STEM graduates, and have generated billions in annual economic impact. This model will now expand to multiple mid-sized Ohio metropolitan centers, new industries, and new private sector partners to attract increased investment in Ohio. Many communities are in varying stages of pulling together cooperative efforts and financial commitments among regional businesses, higher education, and economic development partners, and the budget provides $125 million to convene these Innovation Hubs.

Ohio Workforce Housing State Tax Credit Program

With Ohio’s housing shortage among the most pressing of workforce challenges, the OCC was pleased to see adoption of the DeWine/Husted Administration’s proposed low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) to create approximately 4,700 affordable housing units over four years. The OCC had advocated for the House’s more robust version, but believes the final version is a good start and, when coupled with the budget’s other housing incentives, will start chipping away at this critical problem.

Other housing incentives of note within the budget:

• A single-family housing development tax credit proposed by the Administration.
• The creation of income tax deductions for home purchasing savings accounts.
• The Senate’s Welcome Home Ohio programs and appropriations, which will allow Ohioans to make needed renovations/updates to single-family homes (particularly to convert homes being rented to permanent housing).
• An increased signature threshold to place township zoning referendums on the ballot from 8% to 15% - this is problematic especially in Central Ohio, where several new housing projects have been throttled locally after going through the normal zoning process.

Streamlining of Ohio’s Administrative Code

The DeWine/Husted Administration’s “Innovate the Code” initiative would reduce up to 1/3^rd of the Ohio Administrative Code through the targeting of duplicative provisions, outdated sections and unnecessary requirements. The OCC highly supported inclusion of the “Innovate the Code” initiative under the Senate-passed budget and was glad to see it in the final draft.

Promotion of Computer Science Offerings

Ohio’s economic competitiveness is contingent upon a technology-proficient workforce prepared with the skill sets for jobs that have yet to even be invented. Unfortunately, approximately 50% of Ohio’s public-school districts have zero offerings of Computer Science (CS) courses at the high school level. The budget extends the computer science licensure exemption and contains $8 million for the Teach Computer Science program for coursework, materials, and exams – both initiatives will professionally develop more CS teachers. Additionally, the budget contains the Computer Science Promise Program, to provide in-school and virtual CS course offerings for more Ohio students.

Additional items of note that the OCC successfully advocated for:

Pole Replacement and Undergrounding Program

Our state’s ongoing investments in broadband expansion are noteworthy, but in many areas this deployment is dependent upon replacement of outdated poles, construction of new poles, and assorted other make-ready costs involved with accommodating this infrastructure along utility routes. The budget contains a measure the OCC pushed for, an appropriation of $50 million to create the Ohio Broadband Pole Replacement and Undergrounding Program. These funds are critical, as the size and scope of this needed work is delaying broadband construction in many areas. In our conversations with assorted broadband providers, the Ohio Chamber has learned that at least one has identified 57,000 poles in need of work with an average cost per pole of $3,500 – so there is much work still left to do.

All Ohio Future Fund

Replenishing Ohio’s inventory of large sites will bring economic opportunities to more areas. Site development costs to bring roadways, water, sanitary sewer, electric, natural gas, telecommunications, and broadband access are steep, but significantly enhance the marketability of communities outside of our metro regions while bringing immediate spillover benefits to residents and businesses in those areas. Governor DeWine’s initial budget proposed $2.5 billion to prepare infrastructure for economic development sites and to ensure all Ohioans reside within commuting distance of at least one such site. This figure was ultimately reduced to $667 million in the final budget.

Post-Secondary Financial Aid

The “Governor’s Merit Scholarship” is a new, targeted measure to keep our brightest students in-state while equipping them with the financial means to continue their learning pathways. The awards involve individual merit-based scholarships of $5,000 per academic year to students in the top 5% of their high school’s graduating class, for up to four academic years at a public or private institution of higher education. This type of financial assistance, combined with the increases to Ohio College Opportunity Grant (OCOG, which is the state’s need-based tuition assistance tool), place Ohio on a trajectory to compete with Michigan and Indiana, both of which offer robust financial aid to grow their talent bases.

Municipal Net Profits Tax Safe Harbor

This was another standalone bill the OCC had been working on (House Bill 121), which allows businesses with remote/hybrid employees or owners to elect to use a modified apportionment formula. It provides the following: when an employee or owner works at a remote workstation, the business may elect to apportion any property, payroll, or sales (gross receipts) attributable to that employee or owner to a designated location owned or controlled ether by the business or one of its customers. This relieves many businesses of substantial compliance costs. This only applies to the net profits tax and does not impact the withholding tax.

PILOT Extension for Renewable Energy Projects

Since 2010, Ohio’s permissive PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) mechanism for counties has spurred significant private investment in renewable energy development and brought significant new tax dollars to Ohio’s communities. The General Assembly extended the PILOT for four years and reduced the required ratio of Ohio-domiciled full-time equivalent employees on a new qualified clean energy project from 80% to 70%.

Newborn Screening for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

The budget added Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy – a rare and fatal pediatric disease - to Ohio’s Newborn Screening panel, and the OCC included this ask in both our House and Senate advocacies. Not only does increased access to preventative care lead to healthier outcomes, in this instance it will delay or outright halt the terrible manifestations of this disease. Biopharmaceutical companies such as Sarepta Therapeutics, with operations in Central Ohio, are leading the way with innovative research, development, and deployment of gene therapies to treat Duchenne, improve quality of life, and extend lifespans. Our Blueprint calls for eliminating disparities among at-risk communities, and the broad adoption of newborn screening for Duchenne shortens the time to diagnosis, helps close the gap in racial and ethnic disparities, and empowers families to make earlier and better-informed treatment decisions.

On behalf of our Ohio Chamber team, thank you all for your engagement and guidance to us over the past several months. As summer transitions into fall, our Government Relations team is already working with legislators on current and future standalone bills that align with the Blueprint or address areas falling short in the budget.

You can always contact me at rcarfagna@ohiochamber.com, and please do not hesitate to reach out to us if we can, in any way, be a resource to you and your business.

JULY 24 -- Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted, who serves as Director of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation, today announced six regional hubs across the state that will help expand the efforts of Ohio’s Broadband and 5G Sector Partnership locally.

“In today’s economy and workforce, all Ohioans need access to high-speed internet,” said Lt. Governor Husted. “Establishing these regional hubs will regionalize the work of our statewide Broadband and 5G Sector Partnership, empowering local communities to help build the broadband and 5G workforce Ohio needs.”

As part of the implementation of Ohio's Broadband and 5G Workforce Strategy, the regional hubs will be placed across JobsOhio's six-region map and will provide resources to local communities so they can create the talent pipeline needed for local businesses.

The following entities will constitute each regional hub:

Central​ – One Columbus JobsOhio Region

1. The Ohio State University​
2. Columbus State Community College​
3. Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio​
4. IMPACT Community Action​

Northeast​ – Team NEO JobsOhio Region

1. Youngstown State University​
2. Cuyahoga Community College​
3. Cleveland|Cuyahoga County Workforce Development Board
4. Community Action Akron Summit​

Southeast​ – Ohio Southeast JobsOhio Region

1. Ohio University​
2. Hocking College​
3. Area 14 Workforce Development Board
4. Community Action Organization of Scioto County, Inc.​​

Northwest​ – Regional Growth Partnership JobsOhio Region

1. University of Findlay​
2. Terra State Community College​
3. Greater Ohio Workforce Board, Inc.​
4. Great Lakes Community Action Partnership ​

West​ - Dayton Development Coalition JobsOhio Region

1. University of Dayton​
2. Sinclair Community College​
3. Greater Ohio Workforce Board, Inc.
4. Miami Valley Community Action Partnership

Southwest​ – REDI Cincinnati JobsOhio Region

1. Miami University​
2. Cincinnati State Technical & Community College​
3. Workforce Council of Southwest Ohio
4. Community Action Agency Cincinnati-Hamilton County​

“With these regional partners in place, we’ll be better able to raise awareness of in-demand broadband careers, establish more local training programs in broadband occupations, and maximize state and federal funding to help pay for this training,” said Matt Damschroder, director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, which is administering the grant.

“Raising awareness and creating onramps to careers in broadband and 5G at the local level is the best way to build a workforce capable of meeting Ohio and the nation’s broadband deployment needs,” said WIA Executive Vice President Tim House. “By establishing these regional nodes, Ohio continues to expand access to good jobs across the state and demonstrate what an effective sector-based partnership for broadband workforce development looks like.”

In January, Lt. Governor Husted announced $9 million in QUEST funding from the U.S. Department of Labor that was budgeted to establish these regional hubs, also known as nodes, to support the implementation of Ohio's Broadband and 5G Workforce Strategy at the regional level.

Today’s announcement represents continuous progress and success related to broadband expansion and 5G deployment that builds upon efforts by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Husted to expand and enhance high-speed internet access for businesses, schools, and families throughout Ohio.

The “Strengthening Ohio’s Broadband & 5G Workforce” Strategy can be found on the BroadbandOhio website.

JULY 11 -- Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted, who serves as Director of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation, today announced the results of the May round of TechCred, in which 367 employers were approved for funding, providing the opportunity for Ohioans to earn 4,297 tech-focused credentials. This most recent round marks the 20th application period of the program

“Ohio’s economy is growing, and we need to build a skilled workforce to sustain that growth,” said Lt. Governor Husted. “Having a program like TechCred is very popular with Ohio employers who are using it to help upskill or reskill their workforce so they can continue to grow.”

The program helps businesses address their workforce needs by upskilling current and prospective employees. Businesses of all sizes, from any industry, are eligible for up to $30,000 per round and up to $180,000 per year. Some of the top industries awarded during this round include Manufacturing, Transportation and Warehousing, and Educational Services. The recently signed state operating budget invests $50 million over the biennium into the program, which will help thousands of Ohioans upskill and reskill.

The current application period for Ohio employers opened July 3, 2023, and will close on July 31, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. Apply now at TechCred.Ohio.Gov.

“One of the most important investments business owners can make is in the people who drive their success,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development. “Businesses both large and small, all across the state, are taking advantage of the TechCred program because they know it is one of the smartest ways to expand their employees’ skills and remain innovative.”

“The fact that this is the 20^th application period is a testament to the success of the TechCred program and its vital importance to our state economy,” said Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor Randy Gardner. “This is one of the most successful workforce training programs I’ve seen in all my years in state government.”

Individuals and training providers interested in learning more about the program can visit: TechCred.Ohio.Gov.

JUNE 14 -- Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted, Director of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation (OWT), today announced Ohio’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Workforce Strategy, which is a strategic plan created to strengthen and build Ohio’s advanced manufacturing workforce, specific to electric vehicles. The strategy was developed in collaboration with industry partners, employers, education and training organizations, and community partners across Ohio to identify, and find solutions for, workforce gaps in the industry.

The Lt. Governor announced the strategy at the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center (MCCTC) in the Youngstown area. MCCTC currently has a waitlist for incoming students and has been an early adopter of career technical programs related to the EV industry.

“We have developed this strategy to build the workforce we need to support the EV and advanced manufacturing industries and secure these businesses and jobs in Ohio for the future,” said Lt. Governor Husted. “As we look to the future, every economic sector must have a workforce strategy and we want the EV and advanced manufacturing sectors to know Ohio is ready for you to grow.”

As part of the strategy, OWT, OMA, and other industry stakeholders provided a current snapshot of the EV sector and outlined a plan for filling the workforce gap in the industry, including an opportunity to bolster workforce efforts across industries with shared foundational competencies, such as semiconductors. The strategy outlines a pathway for increasing career awareness, broadening the talent pool, and establishing and scaling education & training programs around the state.

The strategy’s plan includes:
• Establishing a statewide EV industry sector partnership with regional implementation
• Driving EV industry desirability and career awareness
• Broadening the EV workforce talent pool

According to the strategy, it is anticipated that more than 25,000 new jobs will be created by 2030 through a combination of EV manufacturing and maintenance, battery development manufacturing and charging station installation and operations. That level of growth, nearly a 30 percent increase over the current automotive manufacturing sector workforce, will require industrial and academic sectors to fully recalibrate learning pathways, scale training and skilling opportunities through programs like TechCred and IMAP, and increase the workforce to power the advanced manufacturing future.

“Today, the automobile industry faces new opportunities and challenges brought by the transition to EVs,” said OMA President Ryan Augsburger. “Not since the implementation of the assembly line has America’s auto industry faced so much change so quickly. Much is at stake for Ohio during this transition. The OMA applauds Governor DeWine, Lt. Governor Husted, and the team for their pro-active vision. Ohio manufacturers look forward to helping lead Ohio’s EV workforce strategy.”

To read the full strategy, visit Workforce.Ohio.gov/EV.

JUNE 7 -- The 2023 paving project associated with the use of ARPA funds and the paving of residential roads is largely complete. The contractors replaced isolated curbs, ADA ramps, certain sections of sidewalk and have paved the following roads: Wren Rd., Martin Rd., Cardinal Rd., Teal Trail, Warbler Ct, Oriole Rd., Phasis Dr., Lafayette Blvd., portions of Finch Dr., South Orleans Ave., Hickory Ct., Cedar Ln., Oakwood Ct., Rosewood Ct., Dogwood Ct., Rosewood Dr., Beech Ln., Devonshire St., Cobblestone Dr., Somerset St., Tamarac Ln., a portion of Kensington Blvd., Garden Ct., a portion of Wallace Ave., Parker St., Vine St., and Lambert Dr.

The last portion of the project is the application of a rejuvenating agent, which is a material that is sprayed on the newly paved road and helps to prolong the life of the asphalt. The contractor plans to begin spraying the rejuvenating agent on Monday, June 12. During the process, roads must be clear of parked vehicles, which is why the area is marked “no parking”.

An informational flyer will be dropped off to residents who live along all of these roads.

The rejuvenating agent prolongs the life of the newly paved road. While the agent is being applied, intermittent delays should be expected. As part of the process, a small amount of sand is spread on the road, which will be swept up within the week. Please drive slowly if you drive over a freshly treated area. On the day of application, please refrain from using irrigation systems, washing vehicles, or anything else that might cause water to inadvertently wash off the freshly applied rejuvenating agent.

The rejuvenating agent can be washed off vehicles and driveways, and does not cause any permanent damage or staining. Material tracked onto driveways will weather off in three weeks or less.

Should rain occur, this work will be delayed to the following day.

The project is ahead of schedule and will be completed long before the contract completion date of October 2023.

As a reminder, Mayor Aspacher and Council previously allocated ARPA funds toward the paving of residential roads throughout the City. This is occurring over a 3-year period – 2022, 2023, and 2024.