The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Husted talks debt-free school
Lt. Governor is keynote speaker at Alliance for Working Together Foundation annual meeting
Local, state and federal leaders gathered March 25 to mull the state of manufacturing and skilled labor needs during the Alliance for Working Together
Foundation annual meeting.
The zoom event featured comments from several dignitaries representing the region, with Lt. Gov. Jon Husted serving as keynote speaker.
The meeting is intended to celebrate area collaborations to promote rewarding manufacturing careers as well as announce workforce initiatives, Executive Director Juliana Petti said.
State Sen. Jerry Cirino, R-Kirtland, drove home the need to focus on filling in-demand jobs in order to rebound best from the pandemic-related recession.
Lt. Gov. Jon Husted served as the keynote speaker, while Manufacturing Hero Awards to founder, CEO of Fredon Corporation Roger Sustar and State Rep. Jamie Callender, R-Concord Twp.
U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, alluded to the expense of earning a four-year degree and mentioned a bipartisan measure in the Jumpstart Our Businesses By Supporting Students (JOBS) Act that would provide Pell Grants to students attending two-year colleges.
Husted honed in on affordable education opportunities and programs that could assist in bolstering the workforce.
Americans owe an estimated $1.57 trillion in student loan debt, he said. However, he insisted that a college degree or industry-recognized credential can be obtained at low or no cost.
“In America today, everything is part of a tech-infused economy,” he said.
“There are no more low-skill, high-paying jobs. Everyone needs some type of technical skill to be successful. … We want to graduate more high school seniors with college credits and industry-recognized credentials.”
He referenced an opinion piece he provided The Columbus Dispatch, in which he touted Ohio’s College Credit Plus program, which helps high school students earn college and high school credits at the same time for free. As of the 2019-20 academic year, such students have earned 969 certificates and 2,666 associate’s degrees, he said.
He also said the state budget provides enough support for high school students pursuing technical and training courses to earn 70,000 industry-recognized credentials per year. These in-demand credentials can help students qualify for graduation and earn more, he said.
In addition, TechCred and the Individual Microcredential Assistance Programs help Ohioans earn industry-recognized credentials at no cost to them. The state will reimburse an employer for paying for an employee’s training via these programs.
“We’re going to get a return on our investment when we use this money,” he said. “Over time, this could add as many as 50,000 people a year to the workforce with credentials.”
The state also is offering $2.5 million in grants to help local communities coordinate the private sector with the education sector to deliver training programs that are in-demand and can lead to a job opportunity.
“We believe the combination of
those four efforts can fundamentally give Ohio a competitive advantage versus other states and countries,” Husted said.
He also espoused paying employees $300 to go back to work instead of putting more funding toward unemployment.
AWT bestowed its Manufacturing Hero Awards to founder and Fredon Corporation CEO Roger Sustar and State Rep. Jamie Callender, R-Concord Township. Sustar was referred to as “The Manufacturing Maven,” and Callender was called a strong advocate for STEM-to-career manufacturing education and training.
Petti also recognized retiring volunteer board members Chris Burton and Vince Profeta, and welcomed four new members, Jen Rhone, Joel DiMare, Kristin Jenkins and Mike Mulroy.
Americans owe an estimated $1.57 trillion in student loan debt, (Husted) said. However, he insisted that a college degree or industry-recognized credential can be obtained at low or no cost.