JEFFERSONVILLE, Ohio — Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) Director Matt Damschroder revealed on Wednesday that the agency is allocating nearly $2 million in workforce development grants for various special projects. The largest portion, nearly $1.3 million, is designated for an electric vehicle worker recruitment center in Fayette County. This center aims to assist Honda and LG Energy Solution in hiring 2,200 employees for a new lithium-ion battery plant under construction in Jeffersonville.
Damschroder emphasized the significance of investing in Ohio’s workforce as businesses continue to expand. The funding is intended to help employers establish highly skilled workforces and enable Ohioans to pursue rewarding careers in emerging industries.
Specifically, the allocated funds for local workforce areas and projects are as follows:
Area 1 – Adams, Brown, Pike, and Scioto counties
- Amount: $250,000
- Project: Broadband apprenticeship
- Purpose: Launch a new three-year Registered Apprenticeship program at the Electrical Training Academy, training workers for careers in the broadband industry, with a focus on individuals with substance use histories.
Area 7 – 43 Counties
- Amount: $1.3 million
- Project: Electric vehicle worker recruitment
- Purpose: Assist Honda and LG Energy Solution in recruiting 2,200 employees for the new lithium-ion battery plant in Jeffersonville. This includes establishing a recruitment and training center at the Destination Outlets shopping mall in Fayette County.
Area 14 – Athens, Meigs, and Perry counties
- Amount: $24,000
- Project: Career exploration virtual reality equipment for high schoolers
- Purpose: Purchase 15 virtual reality headsets pre-loaded with health care and skilled trades videos for 1,000 students in four school districts.
Area 15 – Monroe, Morgan, Noble, and Washington counties
- Amount: $200,000
- Project: Incumbent worker training
- Purpose: Upskill more than 250 employees across 12 employers.
Statewide – Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Collaboration
- Amount: $200,000
- Project: Employment services for incarcerated individuals and restored citizens
- Purpose: Support 10 OhioMeansJobs Centers in adult and youth correctional facilities.
Statewide – Department of Youth Services Collaboration
- Amount: $30,000
- Project: Career exploration virtual reality equipment
- Purpose: Purchase virtual reality headsets to help youth in correctional facilities explore career options.
For additional details on local workforce area projects, individuals are encouraged to contact their local workforce development board director. These boards oversee OhioMeansJobs Centers, providing free employment services for both job seekers and employers. Every county in Ohio has an OhioMeansJobs Center, and interested individuals can find the center near them by visiting OhioMeansJobs.com and selecting “FIND A JOB CENTER” at the bottom of the page.