Organization Helps 267 Find Jobs

SANDUSKY REGISTER

A local job search office wants to help more Ottawa County residents find employment. Last year, the Ottawa County Improvement Corporation reopened the local OhioMeansJobs headquarters near Oak Harbor. Since then, the organization has helped more than 250 people find jobs in the region. OhioMeansJobs is an online job search engine with thousands of listings for residents seeking employment. The local office previously served Ottawa County residents for 12 years and is now overseen by the OCIC. Corporation Director Jamie Beier Grant recently spoke the Register about the facility and the local job market.

A: There has been a lot of transition within the OhioMeansJobs system in Ohio, which happened in tandem with when the OCIC took over the administration of the OhioMeansJobs Ottawa County operations. The most significant changes that we have had to incorporate into restructuring the operation deals specifically with the federal shift from the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) to the Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA). We’ve been working to make all necessary adjustments and have been working with the state of Ohio to ensure a smooth transition to incorporating new guidelines and services. Additionally, we’ve been working to expand the outreach of OhioMeansJobs Ottawa County and better market services to customers. We are using print advertising, success stories on our website and in news articles and social media to promote the services we offer and, most importantly, that jobs are available.

Q: How did you tackle the challenges of this past year?

A: Having a staff that is committed to providing valuable services to the clients is the number one priority. The Ottawa County Improvement Corporation appreciates the relationships we build with our partners and businesses because, at the end of the day, it is about helping job seekers find the resources they need to re-engage in the workforce. It is about helping businesses find the employees they need to remain successful. The corporation and OhioMeansJobs have been able to successfully offer services such as job fair for graduating high school seniors, support for mass recruitment events for local companies, and coordinating summer job fairs in all county high schools to support our service.

Q: What positives can be gleaned from your time overseeing this office?

A: By incorporating the job seeker component of our services, we have grown into a turn-key organization that can provide enhanced resources to our business community. The incorporation of the OhioMeansJobs Ottawa County work also helps create a streamlined pathway for job seekers to find employment opportunities. Additionally, our office has become more involved with the K-12 schools in the county. We discuss career pathways and encourage Ottawa County students to discover where their talents can take them locally.

Q: What is the state of the job market in Ottawa County?

A: As of September 2017, there are 2,364 job openings within a 20-mile radius of Oak Harbor. Within 30-miles of Oak Harbor, there are 9,526 job openings. The number of job openings in our region continues to climb and workforce development is a top priority of most all businesses we talk to.

Q: About how many people have you helped find jobs since taking over the office in summer 2016?

A: The OhioMeansJobs Ottawa County facility has helped 267 individuals find employment during the past 12 months.

Q: What are your ambitions for this site?

A: Providing employment resources and connecting as many job seekers to employment in our community is the goal of OhioMeansJobs Ottawa County. Strengthening the brand and growing awareness of services within the schools and public job seekers is the goal we will continue to work to attain.

Q: How can someone take advantage of the services you offer?

A: Visit our website, ocic.biz, or visit us at the Ottawa County Resource Center, at 8043 W. Ohio 163, and meet directly with Valerie Mannon, the employment resources coordinator.