The program is called TechCred. Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said its a way to close a workforce gap by upscaling the skills employees have.
Through this program, the state will reimburse businesses to get employees or incoming employees certified in a technology-focused skill of need.
Husted spoke to the chamber of commerce detailing what the program will look like. Employers identify a needed skill and employees that may need it. There’s 150 credentialed skills to choose from. They apply online and enroll in a training area, like a nearby school, to take the course in less than a year. Once they give the state verification of completion, the business will be reimbursed up to $2,000 per employee training.
"We need TechCred because we’re creating jobs at a faster pace than we’re recruiting employees to fill them," Husted said. Why? Because of demographics, but largely because of skills. The skills that are needed in today’s economy are different than they were five and 10 years ago.
The state budgeted $30 million for the next two years for this program. It applies to any business in Ohio with W-2 employees. Businesses can be reimbursed up to $30,000 in total.
Former Findlay mayor turned state official, Lydia Mihalik, will oversee the program. She said data gathered from this will only help close that gap of having more jobs than people to fill them.
"I think it will only get better and we’ll learn what the needs are from the business community and we’ll continue to adjust and evolve and the program will be phenomenal," Mihalik said. "And ultimately, what we want to be in Ohio is the best place in the country that is addressing this need."
"It is the most important economic issue of our time, skills," said Husted. "Technical skills, helping people earn them. Giving businesses the talent they so that they will want to invest and grow in our state."
Applications opened up Tuesday and Mihalik said 30 applications have come in. It’ll be a competitive process and applications are accepted through Oct. 31 on techcred.Ohio.Gov.
