The Stark County Manufacturing Workforce Development Partnership (SCMWDP) is thrilled to announce that it has been selected as one of the recipients of the Industry Sector Partnership (ISP) Grant, a program initiated by Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted and administered through the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation. The Lt. Governor revealed that 26 workforce partnerships across Ohio will collectively receive $5 million in awards to support collaborations that strengthen the workforce pipeline and align the skills of Ohioans with the needs of employers and the local economy.
The SCMWDP is set to receive a portion of this funding to enhance its efforts in building a skilled and dynamic workforce, particularly in the manufacturing sector. This grant will enable the partnership to further its mission of fostering collaboration between businesses, education providers, and communities to address the evolving demands of the industry and contribute to the economic growth of the region.
Lt. Governor Husted emphasized the significance of the awarded partnerships, stating, “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.” He underscored the importance of encouraging collaboration to train students with the skills that businesses in their regions need.
The Industry Sector Partnership program is designed to develop regional workforce strategies by driving collaboration between local businesses, education and training providers, and community stakeholders. Lydia Mihalik, Director of the Ohio Department of Development, expressed the impact of these grants, stating, “With these grants, we’re able to foster robust workforce pipelines that better meet the evolving demands of our industry partners. 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.”
“The Stark County Manufacturing Workforce Development Partnership is excited to contribute to these efforts and extend its reach to benefit the local community,” stated James Batchelder, President of the SCMWDP. “This grant will empower us to cultivate collaboration among businesses, education providers, and communities, ultimately benefiting the local community. We are eager to utilize this opportunity to strengthen our workforce initiatives, and we look forward to the continued success of our collaborative efforts in making a lasting impact on the region’s workforce.”
The Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, through contracted services with the SCMWDP, applied for the ISP Grant and will continue management of SCMWDP grants and programs.
“The Chamber is proud to continue our work with the dedicated manufacturers in Stark County to advance workforce solutions for the manufacturing industry,” said Denny Saunier, President & CEO of the Canton Regional Chamber.
To learn more about the Industry Sector Partnership Grant and its impact on
workforce development, please visit Workforce.Ohio.gov/ISP.
To learn more about the Stark County Manufacturing Workforce Development Partnership, visit www.StarkManufacturing.org.
