The Advanced Manufacturing Consortium (AMC) has been selected as the Concierge Service Provider (CSP) for the JobsOhio Technician Path program in the Northwest JobsOhio region. The program will help eligible employers address technician shortages by combining financial incentives with hands-on support to develop earn-and-learn training pathways for new and existing employees.
AMC developed the regional proposal in collaboration with the Northwest Ohio Manufacturing Alliance (NOMA), Raise the Bar Hancock County (RTB), Workforce Partnership of Putnam County (WPPC), and Great Lakes Industry Sector Partnership (GLISP). Together, the five organizations formed the Northwest Ohio ISP Consortium to ensure employers across all 17 counties in the region have access to local assistance.
The consortium builds upon each industry sector partnership’s established employer relationships, workforce-development expertise, and connections to education and training providers. AMC will serve as the lead organization, while each ISP will engage employers within its designated service area.
“Employers across Northwest Ohio are facing a shared challenge: finding and developing the skilled technicians they need,” said Tori Atkinson, Executive Director of the AMC. “By bringing our five partnerships together, we can provide consistent support across all 17 counties while maintaining the trusted local relationships each ISP has built with employers. JobsOhio’s investment creates a meaningful opportunity for companies to strengthen their talent pipelines and for Ohioans to advance into rewarding technical careers.”
Helping Employers Develop Skilled Technicians
JobsOhio Technician Path supports earn-and-learn pathways that allow employees to earn a paycheck while developing technical skills through approved education or registered apprenticeship programs. Both new hires and existing employees may qualify.
Eligible employers can receive up to $10,000 per participating employee, distributed across three milestones:
- $1,000 following verified enrollment
- $4,000 upon reaching an approved intermediate training milestone
- $5,000 upon completing a qualifying associate degree or four-year registered apprenticeship
Employers must operate an Ohio facility in a JobsOhio targeted industry and pay participating employees at least $20 per hour. Employers must also demonstrate a matching investment to receive the second and third payments. Qualifying investments may include employee wages during training, tuition, books, supplies, supervisor mentoring time, and program administration.
“We have a flood of highly skilled technicians becoming eligible for retirement and leaving our workforce, while the current flow of talent refilling that pool is only a trickle,” said Jessica Double, Sr. Human Resources Business Partner at Worthington Steel’s Delta facility and President of the AMC. “This program will help increase that flow and strengthen the pipeline of skilled technicians entering our workforce. The collaborative efforts of JobsOhio and the Regional Growth Partnership are very much appreciated.”
Supporting Employers from Planning Through Completion
The Northwest Ohio ISP Consortium will conduct direct outreach to employers throughout the region to understand their technician needs, current workforce challenges, and existing training efforts. Each employer will work with a local ISP representative who can provide individualized support throughout the process.
The ISPs will help employers:
- Determine whether the company, employees, occupations, and training programs meet program requirements
- Identify current employees or new hires who may be eligible to participate
- Evaluate existing training programs or develop new earn-and-learn pathways
- Connect with colleges, training providers, registered apprenticeship resources, and other workforce partners
- Navigate the JobsOhio application and enrollment process
- Understand employer-match and documentation requirements
- Track employee progress and prepare milestone-payment requests
- Expand successful programs to develop additional skilled technicians
For employers that do not currently have a structured training program, the local ISP will help identify an appropriate pathway based on the company’s actual workforce needs. Employers with established education or registered apprenticeship programs will receive assistance determining how Technician Path may support the expansion of those efforts.
“This incentive program encourages stronger collaboration between employers and educational partners,” said Niki Mosier, Vice President of Human Capital at Spangler Candy Company and Vice President of the AMC. “Workforce development is most successful when industry and education work together. By aligning training with the skills employers actually need, we can help companies address critical workforce shortages.”
Through this coordinated regional approach, the consortium will make it easier for employers to understand the program, access training resources, and move from identifying a technician shortage to implementing a workforce solution.
Employers interested in learning more about JobsOhio Technician Path—including companies that do not currently have a training or apprenticeship program—should contact Tori Atkinson at 419-210-1998 or by email. Employers will be connected with the appropriate ISP representative for their county.