Workforce Assistance

To take advantage of growth opportunities employers are being called upon to increase their training efforts in order to cultivate the skills and talent they need to succeed. As a result, access to training dollars and resources have become more sought after. There are numerous local, regional and state entities offering workforce training assistance. Some of the more frequently utilized programs include:

Workforce Professionals page provides resources, tools, updates and links to assist workforce professionals in serving the needs of individuals and businesses.  

Workforce Grant

The JobsOhio Workforce Grant was created to promote economic development, business expansion, and job creation by providing funding for the improvement of worker skills and abilities in the State of Ohio. Grant decisions are based on a number of project factors, including but not limited to job creation, additional payroll, fixed-asset investment commitment, project return on investment, and project location.

On The Job Training

On The Job Training is a federally funded program that helps employers hire and train individuals for long-term employment. This is an opportunity for an employer to work with his or her local Ohio Means Jobs Center to recruit, pre-screen and hire new employees, and to train them in specific skills. The employer is reimbursed for the costs of training, up to 50 percent of trainees’ wages during training period.

Rapid Response Layoff Aversion

This proactive and flexible program provides layoff aversion services to employers, funds special projects or initiatives, and helps workers affected by mass layoffs transition to reemployment. Employers and employees who are facing a potential or current mass layoff or facility closure are eligible for Rapid Response services.

Work Opportunity Tax Credit

This program gives eligible Ohio employers a federal tax credit for hiring individuals from nine target groups of disadvantaged job seekers. Depending on the target group and duration of employment, tax credits can range from $1,200 to $9,600 per eligible employee.

SkillUp 2.0 (cuyahogacounty.us)

Skillup has a network of business resources through the Cuyahoga County Department of Development and can connect you with organizations to solve other business needs as well. Many of these organizations provide technical assistance and other services free of charge! The program offers 50% of training costs reimbursed, a training plan completion bonus and credential attainment bonus

OhioMeansJobs - Cleveland-Cuyahoga County (omjcc.us)

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Foreign Labor Certification

This program helps Ohio employers hire temporary foreign workers for one year if U.S. workers are not able, willing, qualified and available to fill job openings. The H-2A temporary agricultural program establishes a means for agricultural employers who anticipate a shortage of domestic workers to bring nonimmigrant foreign workers to the U.S. to perform agricultural labor or services of a temporary or seasonal nature. The H-2B temporary non-agricultural program does the same in other fields of work.

To learn more, email our Economic Development team.