Program to help residents get jobs in manufacturing

A new pilot program is being launched in Elyria to help the city’s residents gain better access to good-paying manufacturing jobs, according to a news release.

Elyria Works Now, a new collaboration of Elyria city government, education, nonprofit, for-profit and the faith-based community leaders, convened with local industry to help solve a problem.

Many Elyria manufacturers have entry level positions they cannot fill, while some Elyria residents need jobs, the release said.

The city has over 80 manufacturing companies.

In a recent survey, 16 of 18 companies reported having difficulty filling both entry-level and more skilled positions.

Led by the city of Elyria Mayor’s Office and supported by community organizations, the effort is designed to reduce the city of Elyria’s 22.2 percent poverty rate, build a pipeline of entry-level workers for under-served target industries beginning with manufacturing and help more Elyria residents leverage living wage jobs with benefits, the release said.

Elyria Works Now will accomplish this by providing participants with free connectivity, support, education, training and access to employers that have committed to hiring goals, Elyria Mayor Holly Brinda said.

There also will be family-friendly policies working with community partners to remove barriers to employment and wrap-around

services responding to participants and their Individualized Career Plans provided, the release said.

The Elyria Works Now collaboration includes the following partners that have agreed to provide services, supports and career information sites: The city of Elyria Mayor’s Office, Elyria Community Improvement Corporation, Lorain County Urban League, Elyria City Schools, Lorain County Joint Vocational School, Lorain County Community College, Elyria Public Library System, Elyria Chapter of the NAACP, Elyria Arts Council, St. Mary Church for Elyria Faith Community, Invest Elyria, Lorain County Chamber of Commerce and Express Employment Professionals.

The initial goal of this pilot program is for four companies — Dura-line, Elyria Foundry, Multilink and United Initiators — to hire a minimum of 100 Elyrians by the end of 2018, the release said.

If the program is successful, the city and its partners hope to expand the program to more manufacturers and eventually address needs of other target industries seeing workforce shortages like health care and transportation.

Brinda said there are several

reasons for the city and other key institutions to be concerned about addressing challenges of poverty and helping the manufacturing community fill jobs.

She said that the poverty rate of 22.2 percent, labor shortages in manufacturing and some other sectors negatively affect the 53,249 Elyria residents and organizations because the income levels of an estimated 4,925 households are not producing the income taxes necessary to adequately fund basic city services.

If Elyria can get 1,100 more working adults making a living wage, the city will collect an additional $990,000 annually in income taxes, thus better supporting needed city services, the release said.

“If we can help break the cycle of poverty for some of our residents, it will have a long-term positive impact on current and future generations of in our community,” Brinda said.

And as far as the manufacturing companies are concerned, if they can’t find the workers to fill the jobs, they lose out on contracts and work and cannot compete, the release said.

The four pilot employers are offering a number of positions, the release said.

To access entry level jobs in these companies, Elyria

residents are encouraged to register for Elyria Works Now today and participate in a brief orientation and training.

Participants registered will receive a career coach, an interview and a real edge in the hiring process, the release said.

Participants who go through the program and have demonstrated their commitment and proficiency will receive an interview and likely will be hired by one of the pilot companies if there is mutual agreement that there is a good match, according to the release.

More companies and business sectors will be added in the future if the program is successful, the release said.

The first two information sessions for Elyria Works Now are scheduled from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Oct. 16 at Elyria City Hall, 131 Court St.; and from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 23 at the Lorain County Urban League, 200 Middle Ave., Suite 200.

To learn more, visit the Elyria Works Now at www. elyria worksnow.com or call the Jobs Hotline at 440-3261462.

Those interested also can find the program on Facebook @elyriaworksnow.