Some industries have taken a direct hit from the COVID pandemic resulting in mass layoffs and furloughs. With this reality in mind community leaders, led by the Career and Technology Education Centers (C-TEC) of Licking County, worked together to create a short-term manufacturing training program for anyone looking to upskill and change careers to fill ever-present manufacturing job openings.
The C-TEC EDGE program is a short-term, tuition-free, pre-employment training in modern manufacturing, open to anyone 18+ years of age. Complete the training and potential candidates come out with industry-recognized credentials such as OSHA 10 NIMS Level 1 and AHA CPR First Aid.
Students will interact with Licking County manufacturers weekly about their immediate openings and get the hands-on training our manufacturers need to fill those positions.
Modern manufacturing provides a safe and lucrative career, with an average salary of $67,591 in Licking County. In the last year the number of manufacturing jobs has increased by 2.6% and large swaths of the manufacturing workforce are nearing retirement—22% right here in Licking County.
Knowing this, the Heath-Newark-Licking County Port Authority funded the first two cohorts of C-TEC Edge. The Licking County Commissioners have agreed to fund four more. Besides the dollars to fund the program, the other critical component was the partnership with area manufacturers.
C-TEC Edge classes begin Oct. 19 and Nov. 16. Enrollment is open now. Those interested in the C-TEC Edge program should call 740-403-0837 or click here.