Employers seeking ways to retain and recruit employees have another opportunity to receive support to help employees build technology related skills. The Ohio Office of Workforce Transformation has announced a new round of TechCred, which is open until June 30 at 3:00 PM.

TechCred supports credentials including in manufacturing technology, business technology, cybersecurity, robotics, and information technology. In addition, businesses may request approval for unlisted certifications. Eligible credentials include those that meet the following criteria:

• Certificates earned via training(s) or course(s) or by passing a standardized test
• Industry-recognized
• Completed in less than one calendar year in programs that are fewer than 900 clock hours or 30 credit hours
• Technology focused
• Online and distance-learning programs are permitted and encouraged

Eligible employers can receive up to $2,000 per credential to cover costs including tuition, lab fees, manuals, textbooks, and certification costs, and up to $30,000 per employer per funding round. Funding will be provided as a reimbursement after the current or prospective employee successfully completes their program and obtains the approved credential.

Applications will be reviewed competitively based on any wage increase provided compared to the credential cost, the level of economic distress in the employer’s region, and the employer’s contribution toward the cost of the credential.

Employers interested in TechCred should visit techcred.ohio.gov. For more information or to discuss support available for manufacturers, contact HBK Manufacturing Solutions, by calling 330-758-8613 or emailing manufacturing@hbkcpa.com.

Last week, Ohio’s Office of Workforce Transformation announced that the next application period for TechCred will be open from April 1 to April 30, 2021 at 3:00 PM.

Ohio introduced the TechCred program in 2019 to support employers and employees looking to improve technology-related skills. TechCred supports credentials including those in the manufacturing technology, construction technology, business technology, cybersecurity, robotics, and information technology fields. To see a list of eligible credentials or to request approval for an unlisted certification, visit https://techcred.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/techcred/about/credential-list/. Qualifications for eligible credentials include:

• Credentials include certificates, which are earned by successfully completing training(s) or course(s), or certifications, which are earned by passing a standardized test recognizing an individual’s competency in a particular specialty.
• Credentials must be industry-recognized.
• Credentials must be short-term, meaning that that the program must be able to be completed in less than one calendar year in programs that are fewer than 900 clock hours or 30 credit hours.
• Credentials must be technology-focused, depending on science, technology, engineering and/or math as well as technical skills such as developing, deploying, or investing in technology such as software development, advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, computer hardware, military applications, data analytics, or other emerging fields.
• Online and distance-learning programs are encouraged.

Interested employers must employ W-2 employees, and individuals seeking credentials must have a verifiable Ohio address. Businesses can apply for funding by visiting https://techcred.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/techcred/apply. With this round of applications, the Office of Workforce Transformation is requiring all applicants to have a Supplier ID number, which can be obtained at https://supplier.ohio.gov. Businesses may only submit one application per funding period.

Applications will be reviewed competitively based on the following criteria:

• Wage compared to the credential cost
• Level of economic distress in the employer’s region
• Amount of employer contribution toward the cost of the credential

Businesses can receive up to $2,000 per credential to cover tuition, lab fees, manuals, textbooks, and certification costs, and up to $30,000 per employer per funding round. Funding will be provided as a reimbursement after the current or prospective employee successfully completes their program and obtains the approved credential.

For more information about TechCred, visit techcred.ohio.gov. For questions about this program or other support for manufacturers, contact a member of HBK Manufacturing Solutions, by calling 330-758-8613 or emailing manufacturing@hbkcpa.com.

The Office of Workforce Transformation in Ohio will open a new round of TechCred applications from January 4 through January 29, 2021 at 3:00 PM.

Since the program’s inception, TechCred has completed six rounds of funding. In the most recent funding round, which ended in October, 246 Ohio employers were approved, which allows funding for 3,000 credentials.

TechCred provides employers with the opportunity to support employees through the advancement of their technological skills. Employees can earn credentials in subject matter including manufacturing technology, construction technology, business technology, cybersecurity, robotics, and information technology fields. A list of eligible credentials is available at https://techcred.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/techcred/about/credential-list/.

Employers may also request approval for credentials not included on this list. Eligible credentials must meet the following criteria:

• Industry-recognized
• Short-term (the program must be able to be completed in less than one calendar year and consist of fewer than 900 clock hours or 30 credit hours)
• Technology focused
• Includes certificates, which are earned by successfully completing training or courses, or certifications, which are earned by passing a standardized test recognizing an individual’s competency in a particular field.

Due to the ongoing status of the COVID-19 pandemic, online and distance-learning programs are encouraged.

Interested employers should visit https://techcred.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/techcred/apply to apply for the TechCred program. The Ohio Development Services Agency reviews applications and awards funding. Businesses can be awarded up to $2,000 per credential and $30,000 per funding round, which is reimbursed to the employer when the employee obtains the approved credential or completes the approved program.

To learn more about Ohio’s TechCred program, visit techcred.ohio.gov. For questions about this program or other support for manufacturers, contact a member of HBK Manufacturing Solutions by calling 330-758-8613 or emailing manufacturing@hbkcpa.com.

The sixth round of TechCred applications is currently being accepted by Ohio’s Office of Workforce Transformation. The application period closes October 30, 2020, at 3:00 p.m. Nearly 1,000 Ohio employers have taken advantage of the TechCred program and nearly 12,000 technology-related credentials have been awarded.

Introduced in the fall of 2019, TechCred provides employers with an opportunity to improve the technological skills of current and future employees who can earn credentials in such fields as manufacturing technology, construction technology, business technology, cybersecurity, robotics and information technology. For a complete list of available credentials or to request approval for an unlisted certification, visit https://techcred.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/techcred/about/credential-list/.

TechCred credentials must be industry-recognized. The program must be completed in less than one calendar year and consist of fewer than 900 clock hours or 30 credit hours. In addition, credentials must:

• Be technology-focused—science, technology, engineering and/or math
• Represent learned technical skills—developing, deploying or investing in technology, such as software development, advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, computer hardware, military applications, data analytics or other emerging fields.
• Consist of certificates earned by successfully completing training or courses, or certifications earned by passing a standardized test recognizing an individual’s competency in a particular activity.

Given the COVDI-19 pandemic, online and distance-learning programs are encouraged.

Employers can apply for funding by visiting https://techcred.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/techcred/apply. Applications are reviewed competitively, and the Ohio Development Services Agency awards funding. Awards are for up to $2,000 per credential and $30,000 per employer per funding round. Sponsoring businesses are reimbursed after the current or prospective employee successfully completes their program and obtains the approved credential.

For more information about TechCred, visit techcred.ohio.gov. For questions about TechCred or other support programs for manufacturers, contact a member of the HBK CPAs & Consultants Manufacturing Solutions Group by calling 330-758-8613 or emailing manufacturing@hbkcpa.com.

Ohio’s Office of Workforce Transformation is accepting another round of TechCred applications. The deadline for submission is 3:00 p.m., August 31, 2020. TechCred, introduced in the fall of 2019, provides funding to employers to improve the technological skills of current and future employees. The program awards certifications, or credentials, in a wide range of skills including those in manufacturing technology, construction technology, business technology, cybersecurity, robotics, and information technology. For a list of credentials, or to request approval for an unlisted certification, visit https://techcred.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/techcred/about/credential-list/.

Employers can apply for funding by visiting https://techcred.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/techcred/apply. The Ohio Development Services Agency reviews applications competitively—not on a first-come, first-served basis—and awards funding of up to $2,000 per credential and $30,000 per employer per funding round. Employers are reimbursed for their training expenses after the current or prospective employee successfully completes their program and obtains the approved credential.

Qualifications for eligible credentials include:

• Credentials include certificates, which are earned by successfully completing training(s) or course(s), or certifications, which are earned by passing a standardized test recognizing an individual’s competency in a particular specialty.
• Credentials must be industry-recognized.
• Each credential must be earned in less than one calendar year in fewer than 900 clock hours or 30 credit hours.
• Credentials must be technology focused, relating to science, technology, engineering or math, or technical, such as developing, deploying or investing in technology, including software development, advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, computer hardware, military applications, data analytics or other emerging fields.
• Online and distance-learning programs are encouraged. Employers and training providers must ensure any in-person training follows the recommendations of the Ohio Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For more information about TechCred, visit techcred.ohio.gov. For questions about this program or other funding and support programs for manufacturers, contact a member of the HBK CPAs & Consultants Manufacturing Solutions Group by phone at 330-758-8613 or email at manufacturing@hbkcpa.com.

On May 29, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Development Services Agency announced changes to the state’s TechCred program. TechCred was introduced in the fall of 2019 when unemployment rates were at historically low levels and offered employers a program to help employees obtain specific credentials or technological skills. However, due to COVID-19’s impact on unemployment rates and business’s needs, the program has been altered for its next funding round, which begins June 1 and ends June 30, 2020. Changes to the program include:

• Employers will identify the number of employees they will upskill, rather than identifying specific employees.
• Employers who were previously approved in past funding rounds may substitute employees listed in their original application.
• Employees are now permitted to earn multiple credentials per application period.
• Employers who received funding in October 2019 or January 2020 and had programs interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic may request an extension of their timeline.

Qualifications for eligible credentials include:

• Credentials include certificates, which are earned by successfully completing training(s) or course(s), or certifications, which are earned by passing a standardized test recognizing an individual’s competency in a particular specialty.
• Credentials must be industry-recognized.
• Credentials must be short term, meaning that that the program must be able to be completed in less than one calendar year in programs that are fewer than 900 clock hours or 30 credit hours.
• Credentials must be technology focused, depending on science, technology, engineering and/or math as well as technical skills such as developing, deploying, or investing in technology such as software development, advanced manufacturing, cyber security, computer hardware, military applications, data analytics, or other emerging fields.

To see a list of eligible credentials or to request approval for an unlisted certification, visit https://techcred.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/techcred/about/credential-list/.

In the June round of funding, employers may be reimbursed up to $2,000 per credential for successful applications where a current or prospective employee completes an eligible credential. An employer can receive up to $30,000 per funding round. Eligible employers are Ohio registered employers that employee Ohio residents as W-2 employees. Individuals must be W-2 employees at the time of the reimbursement request. Employers may only submit one application per application period.

For more information about TechCred, visit techcred.ohio.gov. For questions about this program or other support for manufacturers, contact a member of the HBK CPAs & Consultants Manufacturing Solutions Group, by calling 330-758-8613 or emailing manufacturing@hbkcpa.com.

With unemployment at historically low levels, many manufacturers are struggling to find new employees. The challenge is greater for employers looking for new hires with specific credentials or technological skills. To address the problem and support employers trying to build a technologically skilled workforce, the state of Ohio is offering a program called “TechCred.” The program offers employers reimbursement for technology-focused credentials that can be earned by employees in a short period of time and therefore provide help more expediently to the employer. The next round of TechCred funding begins March 2 and is available through March 31, 2020.

What are the eligible credentials?

TechCred offers reimbursement to employers for employees obtaining credentials that meet the following criteria:

• Industry-recognized
• Focused on technology
• Awarded by universities, community colleges, Ohio technical centers, or private training providers
• Must be able to be completed in less than one year in programs that are fewer than 900 clock hours or 30 credit hours

Credentials include certificates or certifications in automation, some Microsoft programs, cybersecurity, information technology and a variety of manufacturing software, programming, machine operation, and troubleshooting operations. For a complete list of credentials, visit the Tech Cred website.

If the desired credential is not included in the list, employers can submit additional credentials for approval. Employers must submit proof that the credential meets the industry-recognized, technology-focused, short-term criteria of the TechCred program.

How much reimbursement can you receive?

TechCred awards employers $2,000 per credential, with a limit of one credential per employee in each funding period. An employer can receive a total of $30,000 in reimbursements per funding period.

The reimbursement applies towards tuition, lab fees, manuals, textbooks, and certification costs. To obtain it, employers must submit applicable documentation within six weeks of an employee completing a credential.

How do you apply?

To apply for TechCred, visit https://techcred.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/techcred/apply. You will be prompted to create an OH|ID account if you do not already have one. Once you create an account, you can apply for the program from the same link.

For more information about TechCred, visit TechCred.Ohio.Gov. Or to reach a member of the HBK CPAs & Consultants Manufacturing Solutions Group, call 330-758-8613 or email manufacturing@hbkcpa.com.