Ohio Workforce Guarantee Program (OWG)

The Ohio Workforce Guarantee Program (OWG) supports companies that are making investments in facilities, equipment and training that result in the retention and creation of jobs for Ohioans. The OWG is one of the few programs in Ohio that provides direct financial support to employers for training. Employers have the ability to choose the training provider whether it is a company employee or an outside training provider. The OWG pays for a portion of instructor salaries, materials, travel and special needs. Payments are made on a reimbursement basis. Most types of training associated with an investment project are eligible.

The amount of the grant is based on the training activities and costs identified in this application. When an application is approved, the Department and the company will enter into a legal contract. OWG commitments which have been made through a Commitment Letter issued by the Director of the Ohio Department of Development or through a Request for Assistance Application represent a potential up-to amount of OWG funding. Projects which are for $30,000 or more generally receive partial funding initially. Additional funds are added to the grant through amending the OWG contract. Additional funds will be added as the company meets job and investment projections and 75% of the initial grant funds have been reimbursed. Companies that fail to make significant progress toward their job creation, retention, training and capital investment commitments of a project may only be able to draw down a proportionate share of their training grant funds (i.e. 30% of the commitment will equate to no more than 30% of the grant funds).

Labor Market Information – The Ohio Office of Workforce Development is a source for reports and data about employment levels, unemployment rates, wages and earnings, employment projections, jobs, training resources and careers.

Wayne County Schools Career Center – The Wayne County Schools Career Center provides Adult Basic and Literacy Education designed to improve the basic academic and/or job skills of any adult.

Wayne Business Education Council – The Wayne Business Education Council is a collaborative effort of educators and businesses to assist students in preparing for the world of work. Over the past three years, twenty Wayne County teachers and nine businesses have participated in the Teacher Externship program which provides teachers the opportunity to work at least 3 weeks in a business where they can learn first hand of how to connect classroom content to the business world. Providing teachers this experience will create a better prepared workforce for our county starting in elementary school and continuing through high school or college.

The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute (ATI) – The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute (ATI) offers an Industrial Automation Maintenance Program that includes a Metalworking and Machining curricula. More than 80 local businesses have participated in this program. ATI also offers workforce development programs and corporate training to local businesses. ATI partners with companies to profile jobs, assess skill requirements, screen new hires, and deliver training that continually supports business success. These programs can be delivered onsite or at ATI facilities. Other areas of expertise include quality initiatives and leadership and supervision.

Wayne College – Wayne College houses a Workforce Development Department that assists companies in identifying gaps in desired levels of individual and organizational performance and applying customized training and assessment solutions to bring employee performance to the desired level. Areas of expertise include Leadership Skills, Continuous Improvement and Productivity, Sales Training and Customer Service, Computer Training, Skill Assessments, Ethics and Compliance Training and Productivity and Quality Training.

These training programs are delivered with flexible scheduling, flexible locations and experienced trainers with real world experience. Training grants are often available from the State of Ohio to cover a large portion of the training costs. Wayne College can also draw upon the resources of a major University – Wayne College is a regional campus of The University of Akron, Ohio’s third largest public university.

Employment Training Connection

The Employment Training Connection provides a number of services to expanding businesses such as:

Expanding Business Services

1. Assisting companies with staffing, crowd control and pre-interviewing of applicants.
2. General hiring assistance: job matching, interview space, testing, pre-screening.
3. Arrange for training of current employees to assist with promotions or retention of employee’s current job. (ETC may be able to pay half of the cost)

New employee training:

1. On-the-Job-Training (reimburse employer for 50% of new employee wages during the training period
2. Arrange for paid or unpaid internships, ETC may pay the intern
3. Customize classroom training for the employer, ETC may pay up to half of costs

Employee retention services:
ETC may help pay for child care, work clothing and shoes, car repairs, short term transportation assistance and more.

Services for downsizing businesses:
On-site Employee sessions: unemployment insurance, re-employment and re-training services explained on-site.

Aversion of plant closing:
Access to state and federal assistance to avoid plant closing.

Information services:
Tax credit information, labor market information, and employer workshops.

Most ETC services are at no charge to the employer.