Home - OhioMeansJobs

April 11, 2017

NEWS. . . FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Monica Rose Gwin, Public Relations Specialist, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 330-491-2629

The Workforce Initiative Association, operator of the OhioMeansJobs Centers in Stark and Tuscarawas Counties, has been awarded a $41,065 technical assistance planning grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for the Coal Business United Resource Network (Coal BURN) Real-Time Insights for Real-Time Actions project.

This grant will result in the implementation of a formal multi-state planning process to obtain a better understanding of current and future workforce opportunities in coal-impacted communities in parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The project begins this month and runs through December 2017.

This new multi-county, multi-state consortium will draw on data and actions that currently exist while obtaining information and data on specific skills needed in the workplace, and helping the workforce system to more effectively enable dislocated workers to meet the needs of local businesses. Data collected will be integrated into an interstate development strategy and the model will be expanded to include Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

In 2011 the Workforce Initiative Association received a $250,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Development to replicate a business retention and expansion model that originated in Youngstown, Ohio in 2008. The Business Resource Network (BRN) takes hundreds of resources and streamlines them into a single point for employers, bringing them from Point A-to-Z of the process. The BRN navigates through the red tape of government agencies and programs to determine which funding streams would be best suited to the employer's current and future needs to grow, improve or expand their business. The primary goal of the BRN is to connect workforce development, economic development and education in a collaborative, seamless and customer-focus partnership structure to deliver effective business services.

As a result of this model, the Workforce Initiative Association was tapped in 2012 to serve as the administrative and fiscal agency for a $6 million U.S. Department of Labor Workforce Innovation Fund (WIF) grant that expanded the BRN to 16 counties in Ohio. Since July 2012, the BRN has assisted over 1,800 businesses in the 16 Ohio counties to access over $10.7 million in workforce and economic development programs and incentives.

"The vision for a BRN interstate model began over two years ago and the planning grant from ARC will help us formalize and create the foundation for expansion of the BRN process and model to additional workforce development boards in southeastern Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania," said Matt Falter, Project Director for the BRN.

--END--

April 6, 2017

NEWS. . . FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Monica Rose Gwin, Public Relations Specialist, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 330-491-2629

OhioMeansJobs Tuscarawas County is teaming up once again with U.S. Congressman Bob Gibbs, WJER Radio, the Tuscarawas County Chamber of Commerce and Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio, Inc. to present the Tuscarawas County Job Fair, Thursday, May 11th, 11am to 2pm at the Monroe Centre at 1260 Monroe Street in New Philadelphia. Area job seekers as well as veterans and their families are encouraged to attend.

Local employers are urged to take advantage of this excellent opportunity to actively recruit qualified candidates. As an additional value, no registration fee will be charged. Employers can reserve a booth by contacting Kelly Haer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 330-491-2629.

In conjunction with the job fair, a special two-part workshop event "Job Fair 101: Stand Out From the Crowd" will be offered at both OhioMeansJobs Center offices in New Philadelphia and Canton. Part one will cover the importance of networking in your job search, how to effectively network and how to network at a job fair. The second part of the workshop will include an employer panel comprised of employers who will be representing their companies at the job fair. They will provide insight into networking at a job fair from an employer perspective.

At the Tuscarawas County office, located in 1260 Monroe Street in New Philadelphia, Job Fair 101 will be offered on Tuesday, May 2nd from 1:30 to 2:45pm. The employer panel will follow from 3:00 to 4:00pm.

Job Fair 101 at the Stark County office, located at 822-30th Street NW in Canton, will be offered Wednesday, May 3rd from 2:00 to 3:15pm, with the employer panel scheduled from 3:30 to 4:30pm.

Interested job seekers are encouraged to sign up in advance for the workshop event by calling 330-433-9675 in Stark County and 330-364-9777 in Tuscarawas County.

--END--

April 4, 2017

NEWS. . . FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Monica Rose Gwin, Public Relations Specialist, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 330-491-2629

The Workforce Initiative Association (WIA) will be holding scholarship application sessions for persons interested in training that begins in August, September and October of 2017.

Session will be held April 27th, May 11th, May 25th, June 8th and June 22nd at the OhioMeansJobs Stark County office at 822-30th Street NW in Canton. Sessions scheduled at the Tuscarawas County office at 1260 Monroe Street in New Philadelphia will be held April 25th, May 16th and June 27th. All sessions will run from 2:00-4:00pm.

Pre-registration is not required in Stark County, but residents interested in attending any of the Tuscarawas County sessions should contact Sarah Hale at 330-491-2638 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to register.

Interested individuals must be a resident of Stark or Tuscarawas counties, be considered a dislocated worker, displaced homemaker or meet WIA income guidelines to qualify. Interested persons must have already decided on the specific type of training they are seeking. College students seeking a degree must be able to graduate by the end of the school year. Scholarships are not available for those just starting a degree program.

--END--

February 13, 2017

NEWS. . . FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Monica Rose Gwin, Public Relations Specialist, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 330-491-2629

United Way of Greater Stark County will host an Open House at its Financial Prosperity Center on Friday, March 17th from 1-3pm. The center, which is housed at OhioMeansJobs Stark County, was developed to help local residents become financially stable. Services are tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual client, and focus on three primary areas: employment counseling and placement, financial education and coaching, and public benefits access.

The public is invited to attend the event which will have a St. Patrick's Day "Pot of Gold" theme. Information will be available about the many services offered free of charge, such as: assistance with benefit applications (SNAP, TANF, FAFSA, Medicare and Medicaid, voter registration), VITA free income tax preparation, financial counseling and coaching, financial education classes and workshops, workforce and employment services (new employment coaching, career readiness classes, job search assistance, clothing vouchers, employment training). Along with a tour, staff will be available to answer questions. There will be giveaways, and guests may enter a raffle for a prize basket.

United Way of Greater Stark County's Financial Prosperity Center at OhioMeansJobs Stark County aligns with United Way's Income BOLD GOALS. United Way of Greater Stark County envisions a community where a cycle for financial success exists, allowing individuals and families to access to build long-term, economic independence. The Financial Prosperity Center is one of many financial stability initiatives programs and services developed to provide local residents with pathways out of poverty that are realistic and sustainable.

This innovative center is a wonderful example of United Way's mission to provide everyone in the community with the building blocks they need for achieving financial independence. UWGSC volunteer Chuck Ducey attests, "United Way's MyBudgetCoach Program, combined with the new Financial Prosperity Center, are powerful tools that will positively impact the financial health of our community and the individuals that participate."

"The Stark Tuscarawas Workforce Development Board is excited to partner with the United Way of Greater Stark County to provide an array of financial literacy services to customers within the OhioMeansJobs Center," says STWDB Executive Director Jennifer Meek Eells. "The Financial Prosperity Center will complement job seeker services available at OhioMeansJobs Stark County Center. The financial and employment programs offered through the Prosperity Center will provide job seekers as well as employment individuals tools to enhance their families' financial well being. Delivering more services through a "one-stop" location is an added benefit for our customers most in need."

United Way of Greater Stark County's Financial Prosperity Center is open now, and staff are meeting with their clients to help them address their financial issues. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are encouraged. More information is available at http://www.uwstark.org/financial-prosperity-center or 330-491-2620. This project was made possible through funding from: The Sterling Foundation, Westfield Bank, Huntington Bank, PNC Bank, The Deuble Foundation, Internal Revenue Service and the Ohio Association of Food Banks.

--END--

Page 8 of 9

Calendar

STRENGTHENING STARK

Recent News Events