7 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 5 In Allen County, workforce development is a key focus, with numerous educational institutions and technical schools working with local industries to provide opportunities for residents. Decker highlights the wealth of resources in the area, such as Bluffton University, the University of Northwestern Ohio, The Ohio State University Lima campus, Rhodes State College, Apollo Career Center, and Vantage Career Center. In a new local initiative, a pre-apprenticeship program targeting at-risk high school graduates is set to launch this fall. The program is a collaborative effort between industries, schools, businesses, and the building trades, aimed at helping young people acquire the necessary skills to enter apprenticeship programs. Decker explains, “We’re going to have people from the construction trades work with those young people to get them the skills they need to apply and get apprenticeship programs and start making wages and earning a living.” The program aims to empower participants by providing them with the skills to secure wellpaying jobs in various business and construction occupations. Decker emphasizes the importance of supporting diverse career paths: “We need all those people. We tell the young folks in our community that whatever they want to do, they can learn the skills and work here.” The COVID-19 pandemic forced many companies to pivot to remote work, with some adopting hybrid models that have become increasingly popular. In Allen County, industries like manufacturing have had to adapt to these changes and assess the feasibility of incorporating remote work into their operations. Decker acknowledges that while some manufacturing positions, like chemical operators or assembly line workers, require on-site presence, there are roles in which hybrid work models could be implemented. Decker emphasizes the importance of flexibility in talent attraction and retention, saying, “We try to manage these work arrangements ALLEN COUNTY Looking forward to a cleaner future. We’re committed to achieving net zero carbon and methane emissions across our nationwide operations by 2050. To reach this goal, we’re using lower carbon sources like wind, solar, natural gas and nuclear. Because cleaner air is good for all of us.
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