(Carroll, OH) – The Fairfield County Workforce Center will hold its ribbon cutting and grand opening on September 22 at 4 p.m. at 4465 Coonpath Rd. NW, Carroll, OH 43112. The Workforce Center is a partnership between Fairfield County, Ohio University Lancaster, and Hocking College and was created to offer training to upskill local workers and build a skilled workforce for local employers.
Tours will be provided, and the public can learn about programming available at the Workforce Center. Classes at the Center are designed to give students an option of gaining a certificate to begin their career or to continue their education path toward a degree at Hocking College or Ohio University. Areas of focus include carpentry, electrical, HVAC, advanced manufacturing, and nursing.
“There’s a labor shortage and it’s not going away anytime soon,” said Rick Szabrak, Economic and Workforce Development Director. “The Fairfield County Commissioners and the state of Ohio have invested in this center to help close that labor gap. If we can generate interest in these careers and provide low-cost options for job seekers to gain the necessary skills for these jobs we will see manufacturing, construction, and healthcare industries continue to grow in our county.”
Ohio University Lancaster has provided post-secondary education in the community for years. The university sees this as an opportunity to reach a different group of individuals.
“College looks different to many people,” Ohio University Lancaster Dean of Campus and Community Relations, Jarrod Tudor, said. “This is an opportunity to provide training to people that may not be interested in college right now. The Workforce Center provides options for them to take a class and realize that they want to continue their learning toward becoming a nurse or an engineer.”
Hocking College has created Ready to Work programming that will be offered at the Workforce Center. These programs provide core fundamentals in various industries to help individuals prepare for their new career while keeping safety a key component of these programs.
“When someone walks out of the Workforce Center, we want to make sure they go into their careers with safety as a priority,” said Sean Terrell, Dean of Workforce Development at Hocking College. “We also want them to see how technology impacts these careers. The advanced manufacturing equipment and construction equipment we will be training on is cutting edge and will help prepare people for the jobs of the future.”
For information on the Workforce Center visit FairfieldCountyOhioWorkforceCenter.gov. For more information about the open house please contact Rick Szabrak at 614-806-5429 or email at [email protected].
