Under Ohio’s TechCred program, employers can apply for reimbursement of funds used to train existing employees in qualifying areas–an initiative that aims to help strengthen Ohio’s workforce and encourage employers to invest in their employees.
The first round of TechCred reimbursement closed in late 2019, and the second round will close on January 31, 2020.
The following news was shared via the Southwest Ohio Region Workforce Investment Board’s January newsletter:
Board Member Jackie Alf of John R. Jurgensen Co. and Valley Asphalt was approved for 22 credentials. Alf expressed, “our companies are very excited that Governor DeWine and Lt. Governor Husted recognized the critical importance of technology in the construction, aggregates/mining and manufacturing industries in Ohio and the need to support both improved training as well as updating current workers for the ever growing technical competencies in these critical craft-skills industry sectors” . Melanie Rippstein, Director of Organizational Development for Jurgensen, took the leadership for the Ohio TechCred application process and ”is grateful for Ohio’s support to upskilling the workforce through technical credentials” . Both leaders appreciate the State of Ohio efforts for technical growth development with Ohio’s current employers and welcomes the opportunity to apply for training support and the fact that their companies were approved.
Alf has been a leader in workforce development and advances local area initiatives to promote experiences for high school students to learn about these industry opportunities. Moreover she has been a partner with educational leaders and industry associations, (Ohio Aggregates and Industrial Minerals Assn., Ohio Contractors Association, Ohio Concrete, and Flexible Pavements) in the development of a new credential known as MACC Tech for “Mining, Asphalt, Concrete & Construction Technology”.
The Ohio Department of Education approved the MACC Tech Industry Credential in June of 2019. The MACC Tech industry credential serves to prepare junior and senior high school students for a career in the construction industry. High School graduates with the MACC Tech Credential will be prepared for immediate employment in all of these associated career paths as well as ready for College programs such as University of Cincinnati’s Construction Management program. The industry is also working with the Career Technical Schools in Ohio to be able to offer this credential to adults and is hopeful that the credential will be considered eligible for future TechCred financial support. Moreover, based on employer interests, the SWORWIB will advance some other credentials for consideration under TechCred, such as Project Management Professional Certification, Lean Six Sigma Certification and training for the OSHA 30 and 40 cards recognizing completion of critical, and ever-changing, safety training impacted by new technologies.
Lt. Governor Jon Husted has launched ” TechCred”, a program that connects businesses with the talent they need and gives employees the ability to earn industry-recognized, technology-focused credentials, better preparing them for their current and future job in today’s advanced, technology-infused economy.
These are some key details that employers should know:
- Businesses will identify the specific, technology-centric qualifications they need, as well as the employee(s) they want to upskill.
- To qualify for reimbursement of training costs, the employer must partner with a training provider and apply online. Individuals listed in an employer’s application must be Ohio residents with a verifiable Ohio address.
- The state will reimburse up to $2,000 of training costs per credential upon completion. There is a limit of one reimbursement available per employee in each funding round.
- Employers are eligible to receive up to $30,000 per funding round, and businesses of all sizes are eligible, according to the program guidelines.
- The application period begins January 2, 2020, and ends January 31, 2020.
