On Thursday, March 23rd, The SCEDC along with North Point Educational Service Center in partnership with the Sandusky County Business Advisory Council, launched a new workforce development program within Sandusky County... Student Bootcamp!

At the first Student Bootcamp, 16 high school students had a chance to learn more about careers in information technology at the Sandusky County Sheriff's office, ProMedica Memorial Hospital, and Whirlpool Corporation.

The students also heard from Vanguard-Sentinel Career and Technology Centers and Terra State Community College about programs that are offered, while the students enjoyed their lunch sponsored by ProMedica.

The Information Technology cluster includes careers related to the design, development, support, and management of computer systems. This cluster involves building, maintaining, and repairing hardware, software, and information technology systems. The industry is currently growing at an annual compound growth rate of 5%.

To be selected to attend the Student Bootcamp, the participating students previously took the aptitude test YouScience which showed that based off of their aptitude, IT would be a good career fit!

Thank you to Clyde-Green Springs Schools, Fremont City Schools, Gibsonburg Exempted Village Schools and Lakota Local Schools for your participation!

High School Student Job Fair

The Student Job Fair held by the SCEDC, VSCTC and the Business Advisory Council will be held on April 20, 2023. There are a few spots remaining. If you are interested in participating, please contact Andrea at [email protected] for a registration link.

You're Invited!

Terra State Community College would like to invite you to a Ribbon Cutting Event for their Welding Lab!

See the details provided and please RSVP accordingly.

Extra Assistance for Manufactures – In House Training

The Ohio Workforce Partnership -- comprised of the OMA and Ohio TechNet -- has announced expanded funding opportunities for Ohio manufacturers that have in-house earn-and-learn programs. Qualified manufacturers can earn $500 per trainee through funds provided via the U.S. Department of Labor Scaling Apprenticeship Grant. More details are available here.

Safety Intervention Grant

The SIG Program is available to any Ohio private or public employer covered by the State Insurance Fund to purchase equipment to substantially reduce or eliminate injuries and illnesses associated with a particular task or operation. 

With the Safety Intervention Grant, recipients are eligible for a 3-to-1 matching grant, up to a maximum grant award of $40,000 for each three-year eligibility cycle. This means BWC gives $3 for every $1 the employer contributes. 

In return, employers will submit a one-year case study one year after the implementation date of the intervention. We’ll use this information to determine the effectiveness of the intervention and share successes with other employers. You may view the complete policy for the program, otherwise, click on the heading below for the specific information.

High School Tech Internship Open for Applicants

The High School Tech Internship round three pilot program application is currently open. Businesses and employers are encouraged to apply for this great opportunity!

The High School Tech Internship round three pilot program is an opportunity for Ohio employers to receive reimbursement for establishing a recruitment pipeline by hosting high school interns in tech-related roles. The goal of the program is to provide businesses with the tech talent they need while also providing students with valuable work experience at an early age.

Educational entities looking to participate in the program can apply now. Please email [email protected] to get your application started. Businesses looking to host interns should notify their local educational entity (school district, educational service center, business advisory council, etc.). A business entity cannot participate without partnering with an educational entity.

Interns will be expected to perform job duties similar to what is expected of an entry-level employee in technology roles that focus on software development, data, cloud and IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, and other technology-focused roles. Businesses will be reimbursed up to 100% of the wages paid to interns to encourage employers to hire high school students in technology roles. Businesses are also eligible to earn bonuses for each student that earns a credential.

Internships can start at any time once the educational entity has received notification of approval for funding, but no students can be placed after June 15th. Internships must be completed by October 1st.

For more information, please visit the program website on the Ohio Department of Education's Website.

Apply for a Business Loan - Success Factors

Wednesday, April 12, 2023

3:30pm

Get Bonded for up tp $10M with the SBA Surety Bonds Program

Thursday, April 13, 2023

2:00p.m.

Ask the Expert Workshop: Launching and Growing Your Business: Markets & Capital

Thursday, April 20, 2023

11:00a.m.

SizeUp Sandusky County

Search SizeUp and gain instant access to local & sector-specific data, allowing you to make informed business decisions. Explore suppliers and competition, ways to optimize your marketing, key demographics, and customers. This software is free to use and available any time on the SCEDC's website.

SBDC - Small Business Basics Seminar

The Small Business Development Center's Small Business Basics seminar is free for anyone who wants to start, buy, or expand a small business.

Small Biz Blitz

The SCEDC is committed to expanding our small business engagement to ensure small businesses have the tools needed for success to grow our entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Small Biz Blitz is an abbreviated version of our Business Retention and Expansion visits.

The "Small Biz Blitz" stops take approximately 15 minutes, and include some Q&A followed by a picture with the group. This information is then shared on the SCEDC's social media pages so our following can learn more about you and your small business.

There is not cost to participate.

We would love to visit your business in 2023!

Veteran Small Business Certification Program

Attention Veterans! SBA is now accepting applications for the Veteran Small Business Certification program. Through this new program, certified veteran-owned small businesses and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses can compete for set-aside government contracts. The program will be SBA's primary certification vehicle for all veteran-owned small businesses and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, important classifications that enable those businesses to qualify for sole-source and set-aside federal contracting awards.

Helping Our Community's Small Businesses & Startups Learn and Grow

The Business Resource Center is a one-stop call center to guide area businesses and new business start-ups to a range of resources and continuous learning programs available to help members of our community to advance business knowledge and skills.