Four-county group addressing workforce challenges

By CAROL A. KNAPP

Huron County Development Council

The 4CG Workforce Initiative is a collaboration between Huron, Ottawa, Sandusky and Seneca Counties which evolved after six years of working together and partnering on events and activities to address the workforce challenges facing our business communities. 4CG is the 4 County Group 4 Collaborative Growth.

Consulting firm, Poggemeyer Design Group and the Bowling Green State University Center for Regional Development are leading the group’s efforts in the development of a comprehensive workforce analysis with wage and benefit information and strategic priorities developed to address the workforce challenges of local employers within the common labor shed.

A SWOT – Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats – Analysis was held on Sept.r 11 at Terra State with participants from all four counties. The next step in the process is a deeper dive into seven identified industry sectors:  1) Agriculture, 2) Healthcare, 3) Construction, 4) Manufacturing, 5) Service/Travel/Tourism, 6) Transportation/Logistics, and 7) Davis-Besse.

Input from businesses, community leaders and educational entities is critical to the development of an implementation plan that provides solutions to the workforce challenges in the region.  We encourage you to b part of the solution and part of history in the making by being involved in this effort!

For information, contact the Huron County Development Council, Ottawa County CIC, Sandusky County Economic Development Corp. or Seneca/Tiffin Economic Development.

The 4CG Initiative has received funding and support from the Area 7 Workforce Development Board and the State of Ohio Department of Job & Family Services.

Carol A. Knapp is executive director of the Huron County Development Council.