January TechCred Application Available to Ohio Manufacturers

Despite many Ohio manufacturers experiencing a successful 2023, finding and retaining skilled labor remains a challenge for many organizations. According to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Ohio’s unemployment rate was 3.6% in both October and November, the latest months for which data is available. Further, manufacturing continues to have modest job gains in the state, and average hourly earnings have exceeded $31.00 per hour in the last two months. As a result, competition for employees remains high, and employers must look for opportunities to set them apart from their competition.

One way for employers to differentiate themselves is to offer upskilling opportunities to current or prospective employees. Employers with a physical location and W-2 employees in Ohio may apply for Ohio TechCred to obtain valuable funding to help with employee training and upskilling.

The program provides six steps for employers to follow:

1. Employers should identify the skills that they want employees to develop, and the employer should identify employees who can develop these skills. TechCred will help the employer fund training for employees to develop the skills identified.
2. Employers should identify their preferred provider for the certificate or certification that the employee will earn. The certificate or certification must be industry-recognized, technology-focused, and short-term (meaning that the employee can earn it in less than 12 months or fewer than 900 clock hours or 30 credit hours). Universities, community colleges, technical centers, and private training centers may be eligible training providers as long as they are not affiliated with the employer applying.
3. Employers must apply online at https://techcred.ohio.gov/apply. The current application period will close on January 31, 2024, at 3:00 PM. The Ohio Department of Development will score applications and award funding. Considerations for applications include the level of economic distress in the applicant’s region, the balance of awards provided to the region, and the amount that an employer is contributing towards the certificate or certification.
4. If employees have not already enrolled, enroll them in the program. Note that training must be started on or after December 1, 2023, to qualify for the current application period.
5. After the credential or certificate is earned, an employer must upload it to https://ohid.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/ohid/login to begin the reimbursement process.
   Employers will need to log in using their OH|ID. Employers must provide a copy of the certificate or certification earned, an itemized invoice that identifies the cost, and proof of payment (such as a cleared check, credit card statement, or bank statement) that identifies the training provider, the amount paid, and the date paid. Employers must also submit information about the employee who earned the credential as well as the TechCred’s employment verification form.
6. Employers will receive reimbursement of up to $2,000 per credential and up to $30,000 per funding round.

Interested employers should review the eligibility criteria for employers, employees, credentials, and training providers provided at https://techcred.ohio.gov/. For more information about this program or to learn about other resources that may help your manufacturing business, contact a member of HBK Manufacturing Solutions at manufacturing@hbkcpa.com or 330-758-8613.