Local nonprofit’s grant to help area fill jobs of future
Russ Research Center getting $75,000 from the Greene County CIC.
The Greene County Community Improvement Corporation has awarded a $75,000 grant to a Beavercreek Twp. center to pay for manufacturing equipment that will support the workforce development program.
The money will help Ohio University’s Russ Research Center in Beavercreek Twp.
The Russ Research Center is a 60-acre research park. Fritz and Dolores Russ, namesakes of the Russ College of Engineering and Technology at Ohio University, bequeathed the property to the university in 2008 as part of a $124 million estate gift.
The Greene County CIC is a nonprofit organization that typically awards grants to startup companies through its Economic Development Incentive Program. The CIC’s board of trustees created a new funding stream similar to the EDIP “as part of an ongoing commitment to train Greene County’s current workforce for better
continued from B1 paying jobs, as well as to attract and retain companies that need highly skilled employees.”
“We’re very excited to support the Russ Research Center and Ohio University’s Russ College of Engineering and Technology, as they develop new teaching and training programs. These programs, and the partners Ohio University (is) bringing to the table, create an exciting new development in Greene County’s efforts to attract and retain highly skilled workers,” said Paul Newman Jr., director of development for Greene County.
Scott Miller, associate dean for industry partnerships at the Russ College, says the challenge now is to prepare the workforce for “better” jobs in the region, and to attract new employers.
“We’re expanding our offerings at the Russ Research Center to not only include research, but to reflect the core educational mission of the Ohio University. Courses will be concentrated in new forms of manufacturing, including robotic welding, 3D design and metal additive, and non-contact metrology,” Miller said. “These skills build upon existing manufacturing techniques (stick welding, milling, quality control), but also involve new methods such as robotic programming, computer-aided design, and laser inspection.”
Currently in the Dayton region, there are 683 unfilled manufacturing jobs, with a median salary of $62,405. The grant from Greene County CIC will contribute to additive manufacturing equipment, or 3D printing.
“On the teaching and training side, the plan is to start developing hands-on modules that support active users while developing specialized modules for offline programming and advance applications for additive manufacturing,” said Jesus Pagan, assistant professor of engineering technology and management in the Russ College.
According to Miller, the future jobs are hands-on, high-tech, and will be highly sought after.
“They’re a combination of traditional white-collar and blue-collar positions — what experts are referring to as “new-collar” jobs in 21st century manufacturing. There are very few places that are offering training for these jobs of the future, jobs for which demand will only increase,” Miller added.