The Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition (MVMC) is set to receive $930,000 over the next three years as part of the Ohio Manufacturers' Organization's (OMA) $23.5 million award from the Economic Development Administration's (EDA) "Good Jobs Challenge" program.

MVMC is among OMA's network of manufacturing industry sector partnerships throughout Ohio who will receive funding from this grant to carry out specific recruiting and upskilling components of OMA's workforce development action plan in the Mahoning Valley.

MVMC Executive Director, Jessica Borza says this investment will enable MVMC to continue the momentum created through the WorkAdvance Program, Ohio To Work and other upskilling efforts.

"It will allow us to continue our grassroots outreach and build upon partnerships with the Regional Chamber, National Center for Urban Solutions, SOD Center, Ohio Technical Centers, Eastern Gateway Community College and other local entities," Borza said.

Over 1,600 manufacturers comprise OMA's statewide ISP network, including 120 that submitted letters of commitment to source new hires from this initiative.

In total, these employers indicated a demand for over 25,000 hires in the next five years at an annual wage of $17.60 per hour. This reflects the prevailing wages for the initiative's targeted in-demand occupations of machining, production, welding, industrial maintenance and automation and robotics.

These targeted occupations are projected to have over 50,000 annual openings and 150,000 openings in the next 36 months in total in Ohio.

The initiative prioritizes Ohio's 32 Appalachian communities, the eight largest urban counties and underrepresented groups among the manufacturing workforce including people of color, women, veterans and returning citizens.

In response to regional needs and the needs of the target populations, the ISPs will be led to execute an evidence-based Entry-Level Learn-and-Earn (ELLE) modeled after MVMC's WorkAdvance program to prepare a future workforce.

This strategy includes recruiting, pre-screening, preparing job skills training, onboarding and ongoing support and job coaching components.

"Ultimately, the Good Jobs Challenge grant will lay the groundwork for exponential, ongoing impacts beyond the 36-month grant period by operationalizing sustainable new training programs, formalizing referral partnerships, accelerating ISPs' momentum and building underrepresented communities' interest in manufacturing careers," said OMA President, Ryan Augsburger.