Federal Workforce Funding News
The federal bill that would replace the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which comprises the majority of WCSO’s revenue, failed to pass in Congress last month. WIOA has been operating as an unauthorized bill since 2020 and will continue as such until the next Congress determines a course forward for funding workforce development. Advocacy efforts now into the foreseeable future will be critical to helping ensure we have the funds needed to serve our community. In addition, the U.S. Dept. of Labor recently released its Planning Estimate for WIOA Allotments for Program Year 2025, which is a 7.3% reduction from the current program year’s funding.
Save the date: February 2025 Board Meeting and Awards Celebration
We hope you can join us!
Thursday, Feb. 13
8 – 10 a.m. Initiatives’ Showcase, Meeting & Celebration of 2025 Workforce Champion Awards
Forest Park Branch Library
660 Northland Blvd, Cincinnati, OH 45240
Request for Proposals for Youth Services Under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
The Workforce Council of Southwest Ohio has put out an RFP for a youth services provider. We’re looking for an organization(s) that can develop, implement, and evaluate a robust career readiness program for and with in-school and opportunity youth in Hamilton County.
Survey Results to Inform Employer Learning and Networking Events in 2025
The Workforce Council of Southwest Ohio and Cincinnati-Hamilton County OhioMeansJobs sent a survey to nearly 2,000 local business owners and human resources professionals to help shape employer learning and networking events in 2025. Some of those results can be found below.
Upcoming Workshops at the OhioMeansJobs (OMJ) Center
The OMJ Center workshops are free and open to everyone. Upcoming topics include:
- Enhance your interview skills
- How to set goals, build a budget, and save
- Mental health awareness and stress management
- Understanding and building your credit
- Work-life balance
Featured Story from the OMJ Center
A story from WIOA Career Coach Maya Hayes:
“Back in June, we did a Rapid Response for a massive layoff at Mauser Packaging where I presented to employees about OhioMeansJobs and the resources we have available to help them during this difficult time. Charlie B. came up to me afterward curious about our training program and how he could get started. In July, he traveled 40 minutes from his home to attend our dislocated worker orientation. In August, I met with Charlie again at our office for his intake interview appointment. He interviewed well and received funding to start CDL training at Napier in September.
“During training, he did wonderful! He did need supportive services with transportation during training and received a $200 gas card from us. Charlie completed his program successfully, and I received his certificate in October. In November, I received a phone call from him stating he had found employment at Home Run Inc. utilizing the Class A CDL he earned with us.
“Stories like this are why I wanted this job and why I love this job! To know that I played a small part in helping Charlie and his family transition through such a rough time is heart-warming, and I’m grateful for the opportunity!”
Employers can Access Funds for the High School Tech Internship Program
Interested employers and students need to apply before the deadline of June 13, 2025. The program reimburses Ohio employers for hosting high school interns in technology-focused roles. Interns will perform job duties similar to those of entry-level employees in technology roles, including artificial intelligence (AI), software development, data, IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, broadband/5G, and other tech-focused fields. Employers can be reimbursed up to 75% of the wages paid to interns, with a cap of $5,000 per intern. Applications must be submitted through the INTERalliance of Greater Cincinnati (central.office@interalliance.org).
Applications Now Open: Assets Over Liabilities Program
This program from the Minority Business Assistance Center Cincinnati is for business owners who have survived initial start-up, achieved early growth, and are poised for further growth.
Upcoming Ohio Department of Transportation DBE Certification Workshop
The Ohio Department of Transportation will be holding a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Certification workshop on Thursday, Jan. 30, beginning at 9:00 a.m. at Longworth Hall. This workshop is open to businesses interested in starting the DBE process to help increase their opportunities to participate in federally-funded transportation projects. They will also hear from the Walsh/Kokosing team about the upcoming phases of the historic Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project that require DBE participation to achieve the DBE goal.
Ohio Registered Apprenticeship Incentive Program
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) will award a total of up to $1.2 million in competitive grants to Ohio employers that create new apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship opportunities for Ohio workers.
The Ohio Registered Apprenticeship Incentive Program is designed to help employers, joint labor-management organizations, and industry associations start or expand apprenticeship or pre-apprenticeship programs in industry sectors that are innovative, necessary, critical, and in demand.