Education & Training
According to the United States Census, the Union County-Marysville area is part of the Columbus Metropolitan Statistical Area which includes over 900,000 people in the workforce. Nearly 24,000 of the 900,000 people in Columbus MSA are provided by Union County. The Columbus MSA has a diverse economy with major emphasis in the service and logistics industries while the Union County economy is primarily made up of manufacturing and research and development. You may access more labor information by going to the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services website by clicking on ODJFS. (www.lmi.state.oh.us)
The Columbus MSA consistently has a lower unemployment rate compared to the remainder of State. Accordingly, workforce development becomes an important issue for our existing companies. This also prepares our community’s workforce to be better trained and educated for new companies looking to expand. For further assistance, you may contact the Education and Training Resources listed below for further information.
Union County Education and Training Resources
Union County welcomes any business or company that is planning to move into our area. Our community provides many advantages including our hard working citizens. We welcome you to Union County and would like to provide assistance to you with respect to your workforce needs.
Employment Resource Center:
The Employment Resource Center (ERC) provides various services for residents, employees and companies looking for training and job placement. ERC assists residents of Union County and surrounding counties with locating jobs and with training to improve their ability to further their career. Working closely with the Union County-Marysville Economic Development Partnership, the Union County Workforce Policy Board, and the Union County Department of Job and Family Services, the ERC assists companies with employee searches, job placement, applicant screening, and applicant interviewing. There are no fees for any of the ERC services. For more information contact:
The Employment Resource Center
940 London Avenue, Suite 1500
Marysville, Ohio 43040
(937) 645-2018
(866) 645-2018 (toll free)
(937) 645-2019 (facsimile)
www.co.union.oh.us/djfs
Union County Educational System
Union County maintains a top notch educational system that prepares our children for their future careers. Each of our schools insures that our children routinely score high on the academic proficiency exams and provide rigorous college preparatory programs. Career Centers associated with our school districts also provide vocational education and training. You may review a map of our school districts by clicking on Map. Find more information concerning our schools by contacting them directly:
Fairbanks School District
(937) 349.3731
www.fairbanks.k12.oh.us
Jonathan Alder School District
(614) 873.5621
www.alder.k12.oh.us
Marysville Exempted School District
(937) 644.8105
www.marysville.k12.oh.us
North Union School District
(740) 943.2509
wwwn-union.k12.oh.us/
Ohio Hi-Point Career Center
(937) 599.3010
www.ohp.k12.oh.us
Tolles Technical Center
(614) 873.4666
www.tollestech.com
Higher Educational Opportunities
Union County is located strategically within 30 minutes of nine different schools for higher education. The Ohio State University, a world renowned and respected institution, offers educational opportunities that are unparalleled in the United States. Columbus State Community College offers course work currently at Marysville High School as well as its main campus in Columbus. You may contact each of the colleges or universities by clicking on their web sites provided below:
Capital University – www.capital.edu
Columbus State Community College – www.cscc.edu
Ohio Northern University – www.onu.edu
Ohio Wesleyan University – www.owu.edu
The Ohio State University – www.ohio-state.edu
The Ohio State University – Lima – www.lima.ohio-state.edu
The Ohio State University – Marion – www.marion.ohio-state.edu
Otterbein College – www.otterbein.edu
Urbana University – www.urbana.edu
West Central OHIO Comprehensive Alliance - www.callwco.com
The Ohio State University Marion Alber Enterprise Center
The George H. Alber Enterprise Center at Marion is a campus-based corporate education center of The Ohio State University, providing workforce training, organization development, and performance improvement techniques. It is a resource, research, and education tool for business and industry.
Alber Enterprise Center
The Ohio State University - Marion
1461 Mt. Vernon Avenue
Marion, Ohio 43302
(740) 389.6786
(740) 386.6623 (fax)
www.marion.ohio-state.edu/alber
The Ohio State University – Employer Training Website – www.osutrainingtogo.com
Union County Workforce Policy Board and the Union County Business, Education, Workforce Team
The Union County Workforce Policy Board, the statutory name for the Union County Business, Education, Workforce Team (BEWT) provides communication between the business community and government in Union County. It works on various topics that include employee training, resident training and corporate assistance for training. The Workforce Development Committee (WDC) operates under the Union County Business Education and Workforce Team (BEWT) umbrella, out of Union County Chamber of Commerce. The WDC performs a bi-annual wage and benefit survey (during even years) that provides current information regarding Union County businesses and conducts a bi-annual training survey (odd years) that monitors the training needs of local companies and businesses. They also run the annual Union County Job Fair that is open to all Union County businesses. Finally, they provide interview and resume writing seminars to the workforce at large.
BEWT Member Listing
BEWT Plan of Action
BEWT Organizational Chart
Executive Director for Economic Development
Union County-Marysville Economic Development Partnership
227 East Fifth Street
Marysville, Ohio 43040
(937) 642.6279
(800) 642.0087
(937) 644.0422 (facsimile)
www.whereprideresides.org
State of Ohio and Central Ohio Education and Training Resources
Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce – Workforce Development Division
The Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce leads and supports economic growth and development for the Greater Columbus community in the global marketplace. The Chamber boasts a membership of 4,000 businesses and provides services such as business development seminars, professional forums and business assistance and counseling, as well as a variety of networking events. It houses programs such as the International Center at the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce, the South Central Ohio Minority Business Council and the Columbus Venture Network as well as other affiliate organizations.
Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce Workforce Development Division
37 N. High St.
Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614) 225-1321
FAX: (614) 221-9360
www.columbus.org
First Stop Business Connection
The 1st Stop Business connection provides information about state rules and regulations for business start-ups and expansion in Ohio. 1st Stop serves as a depository for state business-related forms, which can be obtained via its full-service Web site. Potential and existing entrepreneurs can also order a business information kit via 1st Stop’s toll-free number. In addition, 1st Stop acts as a referral service to direct new or expanding businesses to technical, financial or managerial assistance available from state agencies and local SBDCs.
SBDC of Ohio – Ohio Department of Development
Economic Development Division – Office of Small Business
P.O. Box 1001, 77 S. High St., 28th Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43216-1001
(800)484-1300 ext. 6-2711 or (614) 466-4232
FAX: (614) 466-0829
www.odod.state.oh.us/onestop/
Ohio Job Creation Tax Credit Program
This program is administered by the Ohio Department of Development in conjunction with the Ohio Department of Tax Incentives. The Job Creation Tax Credit program is a refundable state corporate franchise or income tax credit designed to encourage businesses to expand or locate in Ohio. The credit is based on the state income tax withheld on new, full-time employees. The amount t of the tax credit can be up to 75 percent for up to 10 years. The tax credit can exceed 75 percent only upon recommendation of the director of the ODOD that there is an extraordinary circumstance that merits an exception.
Projects, which must be approved by the five-member Tax Credit Authority, generally receive tax credits ranging between 50 percent and 60 percent for a term of five to 10 years. Businesses must agree to create at least 25 new, full-time jobs with a minimum average wage of at least 150 percent of the current federal minimum wage within three years of operations. In addition, the business must demonstrate to the state that the tax credit is a major factor in its decision to go forward with the project. The local community must also provide financial support for the project. Municipalities can provide similar tax credits with their local employee income taxes.
Ohio Department of Development
Economic Development Division
Office of Tax Incentives
P.O. Box 1001, 77 S. High St., 28th Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43216-1001
(614) 466-4551
FAX: (614) 644-1789
www.odod.state.oh.us
Ohio SBDC International Trade Assistance Center
The Central Ohio International Trade Assistance Center specializes in assisting new-to-export businesses evaluates their ability to enter the international trade arena. ITAC offers information, referrals and counseling, including assistance with international business plans and market research, as well as export training.
Ohio Small Business Development Center
International Trade Assistance Center
Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce
37 N. High St.
Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614) 225-6949
FAX: (614) 469-8250
www.columbus.org
Women’s Network for Entrepreneurial Training Program
The Women’s Network for Entrepreneurial Training program links emerging women business owners (protégés) who have been in business for at least one year with successful experienced women business owners (mentors). Over the course of one year, the WNET mentor guides her protégé through the challenges of growing a successful business. All program participants must agree to a minimum time investment to ensure that full benefits of the mentoring program are attained. The WNET program serves the Greater Columbus metropolitan area and is the only program of its kind within the state of Ohio. WNET is a program of the Ohio Small Business Development Center at the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Ohio Department of Development and the Greater Columbus chamber of Commerce.
Women’s Network for Entrepreneurial Training
OSBDC at the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce
37 N. High St.
Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614) 225-6910
FAX: (614) 469-8250
Work Opportunity Tax Credit and Welfare-to-Work Tax Credit
The Work Opportunity Tax Credit and Welfare-to-Work Tax Credit are federal income tax credits that encourage employers to hire from nine targeted groups of job seekers 9e.g. long-term welfare recipients, other welfare recipients, veterans, 18 to 24-year-olf food stamp recipients, SSI recipients, ex-felons, vocational rehabilitation referrals, 18 to 24-year-old EZ/EC residents, and 16- to 17-year-old EZ/EC residents).
Employers need only complete three easy forms to apply (an IRS 8850, ETA 9061 and accompanying documentation).
The Ohio Department of Job & Family Services is the designated agency responsible for administering the program. Employers must apply for a receive certification from the ODJFS, WOTC Unit.
The Welfare to Work Tax Credit, for new hires employed 400 or more hours or 180 days, is 35 percent of the first $10,000 of qualified wages for the first year of employment,
For a maximum credit of $3,500 and 50 percent of the first $10,000 of qualified wages for the second year for a maximum credit of $5,000. Employers can claim up to $8,500 of combined tax savings per new hire.
For the WOTC Tax Credit, Employers may claim a credit of 40 percent of first year’s wages up to $6,000, for employees who work at least 400 hours, for a maximum credit of $2,400 per employee. Employees who work at least 120 hours, but less than 400 hours, will entitle the employer to a tax credit of 25 percent of qualified wages, with a maximum credit of $1,500. Summer Youth Employers may claim a credit of 40 percent of the first $3,000 in wages, with a maximum credit of $1,200.
The WOTC and WtW Tax Credit cannot both be claimed for the same individual in the same taxable year.
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
Work Opportunity Tax Credit and Welfare-to-Work Tax Credit
P.O. Box 1618, 145 S. Front St.
Columbus, Ohio 43216
(614) 644-7206
FAX: (614) 644-7102
www.cityofcolumbus.org