The Trades Institute receives funding from the state for micro credentials
Trade school at Emerge the only organization selected in Greene County
XENIA — The Trades Institute at the Emerge Center was recently selected as one of 16 training providers located across Ohio to receive a portion of the $7.1 million funds awarded, providing training for technology-focused credentials at no cost.
Allison Steele, CEO and Director of the Trades Institute, said the program will help people coming through the school gain access to training at no cost through the state’s Individual Microcredential Assistance Program (IMAP).
“This grant will enable us to scholarship 20 Ohioans through our plumbing bootcamp and 20 Ohioans through our HVAC bootcamp, preparing and certifying 40 men and women to head out into the field as plumbing and HVAC technicians,” Steele said. “Combined with our career coaching and work readiness efforts, through our Bridge Workforce Development Services, we will hopefully not just impact the lives of these 40 students but, God willing, the generations who come after them as well.”
Rachel Huffman, Emerge Recovery and Trade Initiative CEO shares how this award will impact those seeking to rebuild their lives at Emerge. “We are thrilled about this opportunity to serve people in recovery who are seeking a viable career path. The combination of recovery, community, and the workforce creates better outcomes overall.”
The Trades Institute exists to fill an ever-growing gap in the trades industry by educating, empowering, and advocating for students, employers and their employees through dynamic hands-on training, upskilling courses and supportive services in order to help individuals not only secure a job, but to attain and sustain a career. The HVAC and Plumbing Bootcamps are short-term, intensive educational courses designed to provide practical skills in order to kickstart a new career in the trades, emphasizing hands-on experience and real-world application.
The Trades Institute, a registered provider through the Ohio Board of Career Colleges and Schools, is uniquely focused on serving the fair chance community but open to all. The school works to transform the lives of those with significant barriers through meaningful jobs and employer development. According to Steele, “The Trades Institute helps people move from ‘look what you did’ to look what you can do’”.
Steele said all Ohioans are eligible to receive training through the IMAP grant.
“Incarcerated Ohioans are eligible for training if they are eligible for release within 12 months from the day the credential is projected to be earned,” she said. “High school students entering their junior or senior year are eligible if the credential earned is not offered through College Credit Plus at their school district when the IMAP application was submitted.”
Husted Announces New IMAP Training Providers
Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted, who serves as Director of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation, announced last week that the Trades Institute is among the 16 training providers located across Ohio that will receive a total of $7.1 million.
“Career credentials show that someone has the skills and know-how to get the job done right, giving businesses confidence in hiring them,” said Lt. Governor Husted. “For the person earning them, credentials open doors to better opportunities, providing for higher pay and more job security.”
The selected training providers, which include four-year universities, two-year colleges, career centers, and private providers, will be reimbursed up to $3,000 each time an Ohioan completes a training and earns a technology-focused credential through one of the approved programs. Up to 3,551 credentials can be earned through this round of funding.
Of the 16 new IMAP training providers, The Trades Institute is the only organization located in Greene County.
The IMAP was created to allow Ohioans to participate in a training program and receive a tech-focused credential at no cost. The IMAP webpage was recently updated with a new and improved search function for credentials and training providers available, making it more streamlined for Ohioans to find the program that works best for them. Training through IMAP is offered both in-person and online, helping to limit transportation barriers for participants.
“The DeWine-Husted Administration is committed to having a dynamic workforce,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development. “The funding through the Individual Microcredential Assistance Program helps build a talent pipeline, enabling companies to recruit locally and hire in-demand workers more efficiently while also equipping the next generation of Ohioans.”
“This additional funding will bolster Ohio’s workforce and allow our campuses to continue to provide training and education in high-demand, technology-focused fields,” said Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor Mike Duffey.
Ohioans interested in earning a credential or learning more about the program can visit Workforce.Ohio.gov/IMAP.
For more information on the Trades Institute, or to see about enrolling, go to https://www.thetradesinstitute.org/