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<h2>Ohio Office of Workforce Transformation</h2>
 
Benefit to Employers
<ul>
<li>Employers can get reimbursed up to $2,000 per credential when they send their employees through tech-focused upskilling programs.</li>
<li>Employers can receive up to $30,000 per application period; the program has approximately six application periods per year.</li>
</ul>
 
What Is It? 
TechCred reimburses employers for techfocused credentials or certificates earned, using a broad definition of technology. This includes areas like robotics and automation, PLCs, welding, machining, electrical, basic business/office software, and many others.
 
Employer Eligibility
<ul>
<li>Employer must have nexus in Ohio and be registered with the Ohio Secretary of State.</li>
<li>Employees going through upskilling must be Ohio residents.</li>
</ul>
 
Process & Application Summary
<ul>
<li>Employer identifies employee(s) and technical training required and confirms that it is eligible for TechCred on the TechCred website.</li>
<li>Employers apply online for funding during an application period. Application periods occur approximately every other month.</li>
<li>After employees earn credentials, employers upload proof of cash outlays and employee credential completion.</li>
</ul>
 
<a href="https://techcred.ohio.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Visit the website</a>

Techcred

<h2>ODJFS Incumbent Worker Training</h2>
 
Benefit to Employers 
Employers can receive funding for 50-90% of costs related to training and upskilling current employees to acquire the skills necessary to retain or advance within the company or acquire the skills necessary to avert a layoff.
  
Reduce recruitment costs by receiving reimbursement to upskill your current talent and stabilize your workforce.
 
What Is It? 
Incumbent Worker Training reimburses employers for training current employees. The training may occur at the employer’s own facility, online, or at a public or private training provider. The training may be provided by a company employee, private instructor, or a combination of public and private training providers.
 
Employer Eligibility
<ul>
<li>Must be employed.</li>
<li>Must have worked for the employer 6+ months or must be in a cohort of workers in which the majority have worked for the employer for 6 months.</li>
</ul>
 
Process & Application Summary
<ul>
<li>Employers apply through their local OhioMeansJobs Center. Click the link below to find your county and contact information.</li>
</ul>
 
<a href="https://ohiomeansjobs.ohio.gov/job-seekers/find-a-job/local-help" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Visit the website</a>

OhioMeansJobs Incumbent Worker Training

Upskill Your Current Employees

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<h2>OhioMeansJobs</h2>
 
Benefit to Employers 
Guidance in developing a training plan for the individuals recruited and pre-screened from the OMJ for the job.
 
Employer is reimbursed 50-75% of the individual’s wages during the training period.
 
What Is It? 
Get direct assistance from your local OMJ with recruiting, pre-screening, and hiring new employees. The goal of this program is to train local job seekers (experiencing barriers to employment) in high-growth sectors or occupations and broaden the employer talent pipeline. To the extent that unforeseen circumstances allow, continued employment of the trainee upon completion of the training period is expected.
Employer Eligibility 
Employers eligible for OJT will be assessed on the following business activities:
<ul>
<li>Safe and healthy working conditions</li>
<li>Able to provide health benefits</li>
<li>Wage structure and turnover rates 
Adequate number of staff and equipment to carry out the training</li>
<li>for the OJT individuals</li>
</ul>
 
Process & Application Summary
<ul>
<li>Employer reaches out to local OMJ for help to develop a trained workforce.</li>
<li>Employer fills out OJT Information Form for OMJ to determine eligibility.</li>
<li>Employer and local OMJ enter into OJT Agreement and Training Plan (type of training, # of individuals looking to train/hire, length of training, etc.).</li>
</ul>
 
<a href="https://www.odjfs.state.oh.us/forms/num/JFS08109/pdf/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Employer “How do I get started” Brochure</a>

OhioMeansJobs On-The-Job Training

<h2>Ohio Department of Job and Family Services</h2>
 
Benefit to Employers 
Receive up to $5,000 per employee to reimburse costs associated with helping an employee achieve a promotion or pay increase.
 
What Is It? 
This program provides employers with a financial incentive to help their associates gain independence from public assistance by increasing their salary enough to bridge a benefit cliff. The program also encourages lower-wage employees to seek advancement and mitigates the fear of negative financial impact due to losing public assistance/benefits.
 
Employer Eligibility
<ul>
<li>Employees must be on a public assistance program (e.g., SNAP, Ohio Works First, Medicaid or a publicly funded childcare program).</li>
<li>Employer is required to present an employee Training Plan to ODJFS for approval. Training can include anything that will increase the skills and knowledge of the employee (e.g., welding, ESL, basic financial literacy, phlebotomy).</li>
</ul>
 
Process & Application Summary
<ul>
<li>Employer will submit an application and participant list to ODJFS.</li>
<li>Within 3 months of employee completing program plan, employer shall submit proof of employee’s completion and wage increase.</li>
<li>Once ODJFS certifies employee no longer receives public assistance, grant funds will be released to employer.</li>
</ul>
 
<a href="https://ohiomeansjobs.ohio.gov/for-employers/resources-for-employers/workforce-bridge-program" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Remove employment barriers with the OMJ Workforce Bridge Toolkit</a>

ODJFS Workforce Bridge Program

Hire Individuals Facing Barriers to Employment

<h2>Ohio Department of Job and Family Services</h2>
 
Benefit to Employers 
Employers can receive tax credits of $2,400 to $9,600 for hiring individuals from eligible target groups, including previously incarcerated individuals, veterans of the armed forces, or a member of a family who receives Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
 
What Is It? 
A WOTC is a federal tax credit available to employers who invest in American job seekers who have consistently faced barriers to employment. Employers may meet their business needs and claim a tax credit if they hire an individual who is in a WOTC target group. Employers must apply for and receive a certification verifying the new hire is a member of a targeted group before they can claim the tax credit.
 
Employer Eligibility
<ul>
<li>For-profit and non-profit organizations may 
participate.</li>
<li>Tax-exempt employers may receive credit against 
the employer’s share of Social Security taxes.</li>
</ul>
 
Process & Application Summary
<ul>
<li>Employers request the online application through 
ODJFS.</li>
<li>After application process is completed, employer completes tax forms (IRS Form 8850 and ETA 9061).</li>
<li>Applications should be submitted within 28 days of the employee’s start date.</li>
</ul>
 
<a href="https://jfs.ohio.gov/job-services-and-unemployment/job-services/job-programs-and-services/workforce-opportunity-tax-credit-program" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Visit the Website</a>

ODJFS Workforce Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC)

Hire Veterans, Benefit Recipients, Previously Incarcerated, or Individuals Living in Designated Rural Empowerment Zones

<h2>Ohio Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation</h2>
 
Benefit to Employers 
Employers are eligible to receive up to $5,000 in reimbursement for wages paid to high school interns in tech-focused roles.
 
What Is It? 
The High School Technology Internship Program reimburses Ohio employers for hosting high school interns in technology focused roles. The goal is to provide businesses with the tech talent they need while also providing students with valuable work experience at an early age.
 
Employer Eligibility
<ul>
<li>Interns must be placed in technology roles that focus on software, data, cloud, and IT infrastructure, and/or cyber security, broadband/5G, advanced mobility, and other tech-focused roles.</li>
<li>Interns must work at least 120 hours in the internship and be paid at least $12 per hour.</li>
</ul>
 
Process & Application Summary
<ul>
<li>The program was piloted in 2020-2021 and started a second round January 2nd, 2024, through June 14th, 2024.</li>
<li>A second iteration and program expansion is likely – application process details TBD.</li>
</ul>
 
Student Eligibility 
Students are eligible if they are currently enrolled in high school, as well as during the summer after their senior year. 
<a href="https://workforce.ohio.gov/initiatives/initiatives/hstechinternshipprogram" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Visit the Website</a>

High School Tech Internship Program

<h2>Ohio Department of Development</h2>
 
Benefit to Employers
Employers can be reimbursed 50% of high school intern wages (up to $1,500 per student).
 
Approximately 80% of interns are offered full-time employment upon completion of internship, providing an opportunity to build a local workforce and give back to the community.
 
What Is It?
The Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), under the Department of Development, works with Ohio high schools and career/technical schools to identify students who have an interest in manufacturing and desire to gain real-world experience in manufacturing.
 
Employer Eligibility 
Manufacturers must agree to a paid work-based learning experience in a safe environment and a Program Employer Agreement, which includes mentorship requirements.
 
Manufacturers must submit an Internship Work Activity Log and Internship Program Employer Invoice at the end of the internship for reimbursement.
 
Process & Application Summary
<ul>
<li>Employers apply through their local Ohio MEP partner:
<ul>
<li>Central: <a href="https://mep.cscc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Columbus State Community College (Columbus</a>)</li>
<li>Northeast: <a href="http://www.manufacturingsuccess.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network</a> (MAGNET, Cleveland)</li>
<li>Northwest: <a href="http://ciftinnovation.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Center for Innovative Food Technology</a> (CIFT, Toledo)</li>
<li>Southeast: <a href="https://southcenters.osu.edu/manufacturing-extension-partnership" target="_blank" rel="noopener">OSU South Centers</a> (Piketon)</li>
<li>Southwest: <a href="https://www.techsolve.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TechSolve</a> (Cincinnati)</li>
<li>West Central: <a href="http://fastlane-mep.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FASTLANE</a> (University of Dayton Research Institute, Dayton)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

Ohio MEP High School Internship Program

<h2>Ohio Department of Development</h2>
 
Benefit to Employers 
Employers can be reimbursed 50% of college summer intern wages. 
Interns are mentored by Ohio Department of Development and their universities in a structured format.
 
What Is It? 
The Ohio Export Internship Program is designed to enable Ohio businesses to expand into new markets by starting or increasing their exporting efforts. The Ohio Department of Development matches students who have completed related coursework with accepted businesses to identify new markets and advance their exporting strategy.
 
Employer Eligibility 
Employers must be Ohio-based and exporting goods for the first time or planning to expand their export business.
 
Process & Application Summary 
Employers apply online in Q4 of the previous year or Q1 of the current year to host a paid intern that summer and are notified of intern matches around April for their interns to start in late May.
 
<a href="https://development.ohio.gov/business/export-assistance/export-internship-program" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Visit the Website</a>

Ohio Export College Internship Program

<h2>Ohio Department of Development</h2>
 
Benefit to Employers
<ul>
<li>Employers can be reimbursed 66% of college summer intern wages (up to $7,500 per intern).</li>
<li>College-age interns come to employers with training and an interest in technology.</li>
</ul>
 
What Is It?
This program provides internships for college students studying in any area. Both students and businesses submit applications, and the Department of Development provides businesses’ open positions with available student candidates to interview. Companies are not required to hire the candidates that are provided to them and can submit a request for additional candidates to interview. Companies may also submit a grant renewal request to hire the same intern for two rounds.
 
Employer Eligibility
<ul>
<li>Employers must be Ohio-based and a technology 
company or have tech talent needs.</li>
<li>Employers must pay at least $15 an hour and hire 
interns as W-2 employees.</li>
<li>Employer must have non-residential workspace or 
professional remote experience.</li>
<li>As many as 10 interns can be hired for different 
positions within the company.</li>
</ul>
 
<a href="https://jfs.ohio.gov/job-services-and-unemployment/job-services/job-programs-and-services/workforce-opportunity-tax-credit-program" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Visit the Website</a>
 
Process & Application Summary
<ul>
<li>Employers can apply online during two annual application periods: January for summer interns or August for fall and spring interns.</li>
<li>Program staff provide employers with a list of interns to review, interview, and choose who to hire beginning ~1 month after employer application period closes.</li>
</ul>
 
<a href="http://development.ohio.gov/business/third-frontier-and-technology/college-technology-internship-program" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Visit the Website</a>

College Technology Internship Program

Offer High School and College Internships

<h2>Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services</h2>
 
Benefit to Employers
Allows employers to retrain staff during times of reduced business activity and eliminate time and expense of recruiting and training new workers.
 
Strengthens the employer-employee relationship, builds loyalty and retention among current employees.
 
What Is It? 
Shared Work Ohio is a voluntary layoff aversion program. ODJFS provides employees affected by reduced business activity with unemployment benefits proportionate to their reduced hours.
 
Employer Eligibility
<ul>
<li>Employee must be employed year-round full-time or part-time with the SWO employer and available for work during normal weekly hours.</li>
<li>Each employee must apply for Unemployment to be eligible for SWO.</li>
</ul>
 
<a href="https://jfs.ohio.gov/job-services-and-unemployment/unemployment/overview" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Apply for Unemployment Benefits</a>
 
Process & Application Summary
<ul>
<li>An employer who wishes to have an SWO plan must apply online and submit the completed application no less than 30 days prior to the requested start date.</li>
<li>If an employer does not meet all SWO requirements, ODJFS will attempt contact to provide assistance.</li>
<li>ODJFS will review the application and send written 
notification approving or denying it within 10 days of receipt.</li>
</ul>
 
<a href="https://jfs.ohio.gov/uoc/SharedWorkOhio" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Submit an SWO Application</a>