Staff report
WARREN The Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition has received $250,000 from the state to expand its youth outreach and hone in on best practices to introduce younger people to careers in manufacturing.
The money from the Industry Sector Partnership program also will be used to support the coalition’s efforts to become more connected with manufacturers in Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana counties, said coalition executive director Jessica Borza.
The coalition includes more than 40 local manufacturers who work with education and workforce partners to grow the local economy and develop workers.
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Funding approval means participating manufacturers can apply for TechCred help to reimburse apprentice-related and other training costs.
TechCred, launched in October 2019, provides up to $2,000 in reimbursement for training costs per approved credential, per apprentice. Companies are eligible to claim up to $30,000 per year in reimbursement costs if their application is successful.
“This is a great opportunity for employers thinking of hiring or upskilling machinists in their workforce. These sector-customized training programs absorb some of the costs employers would experience otherwise, and it gives employees the skills to earn industry-recognized credentials,” Jessica Borza, executive director of the coalition, said.
The goal of the program is to help fill the void of in-demand skills by helping pay for workers to develop new and better skills. Employers benefit by having an upskilled workforce that can adapt to and perform in increasingly technical fields.