How can statewide workforce programs leverage regional collaboration to respond to the unique needs of local job seekers and employers? At the 2026 SHIFT Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico, workforce leaders from three Ohio regions shared how WorkOhio connects regional partners through a coordinated framework while giving communities the flexibility to address their unique workforce challenges.
Hosted by Shift Work Forward, SHIFT Conference brings workforce leaders from across the country together to share ideas, explore new approaches, and strengthen nationwide collaboration. This year, Audrey Treasure of the Workforce Innovation Center, Lisa Patt-McDaniel of the Central Ohio Workforce Development Network, and Alex Hertzer of the Mahoning Valley Manufacturer’s Coalition were invited to host a session exploring how communities across the nation might adopt collaborative approaches to workforce development based on local needs.
A Statewide Framework with Regional Flexibility
WorkOhio launched in January 2026 as a statewide effort to open the “front door” to Ohio’s workforce system and connect job seekers with employment, training, and other support. The program established seven regional hubs serving as central points of connection for job seekers at all stages of their career journey:
- Southwest Ohio Hub: Led by the Workforce Innovation Center at the Cincinnati Regional Chamber
- Central Ohio Hub: Led by the Central Ohio Workforce Development Network
- Eastern Ohio Hub: Led by the Mahoning Valley Manufacturer’s Coalition
- Western Ohio Hub: Led by theStrategic Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE)
- Northwest Ohio Hub: Led by the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce
- Southeast Ohio Hub: Led by Ohio Valley Employment Resource – Workforce Development Area 15
- Northeast Ohio Hub: Led by MAGNET
WorkOhio gives job seekers a straightforward way to request assistance through an online portal. From there, regional teams follow up directly to understand each person’s experience, interests, and needs. The goal is to connect participants to a real person who can help them navigate the system and find the right connection.
Although each hub follows the same statewide framework, the program gives regional leaders flexibility to organize services and partnerships around local needs. At SHIFT Conference, the Central, Eastern, and Southwest hubs offered three examples of how that flexibility works in practice.
WorkOhio Central Hub: Central Ohio Workforce Development Network
Central Ohio has experienced significant economic growth and continues to expand its advanced manufacturing industry. The WorkOhio Central Hub has convened a regional partnership comprising 25 collaborating organizations, including workforce development boards, community-based organizations, and job centers, to create a more connected workforce ecosystem. The shared mission of each of these organizations allows the Central Hub to coordinate support, collaboration, and resource access to help each of its community connectors serve job seekers.
As of SHIFT Conference, The Central Hub had received more than 320 referrals through the WorkOhio portal. The team also plans to expand employer engagement through regional employer councils and job networking events. By strengthening connections among workforce organizations, employers, and job seekers, the hub aims to build a sustainable network that can continue beyond the current WorkOhio funding period.
The hub has also established a Center of Excellence to create a consistent experience for job seekers across the region. Through this effort, the partnership trained 40 workforce coaches in economic mobility coaching. The team plans to build on that work by helping coaches better understand career pathways and the training opportunities available to job seekers.
WorkOhio Eastern Hub: Mahoning Valley Manufacturer’s Coalition
In Eastern Ohio, the Mahoning Valley Manufacturer’s Coalition brings an employer-led approach to workforce development. The WorkOhio Eastern Hub strongly emphasizes placing employers at the center of the work to ensure that training and support connect to real job opportunities.
One example is Work Advance, a short-term earn-and-learn manufacturing program. Participants spend about four weeks developing technical skills such as blueprint reading and safety, along with communication and workplace skills. The Coalition itself leverages partnerships with regional training organizations including Youngstown State University and Jobs for Ohio Graduates to provide technical and soft skills training for WorkAdvance participants. Within this model, employers help shape the curriculum and stay involved throughout the process.
The Coalition works with approximately 80 employer members, with 20 to 25 actively hiring from the program at a given time. By tracking employer hiring needs, the team can connect upcoming training cohorts with companies that have open positions and offer participants guaranteed interviews.
The Eastern Hub also uses Unite Us, a digital referral platform, to connect job seekers with workforce and community resources. The system helps the team identify participant needs, track referrals, and understand whether partner organizations have received and completed them. It also connects people with services that address barriers to employment, including food assistance, housing, and clothing resources.
For the Eastern Hub, accountability is key through every step in the process. Every referral needs someone responsible for the next step, and the team needs visibility into how partners support participants. That coordination helps the region focus not only on helping people find employment, but also on supporting long-term retention.
WorkOhio Southwest Hub: Workforce Innovation Center at the Cincinnati Regional Chamber
The WorkOhio Southwest Hub, led by the Workforce Innovation Center, developed its Workforce Innovation Network, or WIN, project using United Way of Greater Cincinnati as a central point for triaging requests and connecting people with services. The hub also works with OhioMeansJobs centers, Easterseals Redwood, the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio, and the Care Center of Loveland to refer participants and coordinate support throughout a job seeker’s journey.
The Southwest Hub’s approach includes both job seeker and adult education support. Through partnerships with education and training institutions across Southwest Ohio, including Cincinnati State, Butler Tech, and Great Oaks Career Campuses, the team developed a model that provides small scholarships to help adult education students pay for training and/or resources such as work boots, testing fees, or other necessary tools to complete training.
The region also recognizes that job seekers have different levels of experience and different needs. Some people need help entering the workforce or accessing training, while others bring years of professional experience and want to connect directly with employers. To support the latter group, the Southwest Hub has started hosting curated, in-person networking events that bring job seekers and hiring managers together to build relationships and unlock new opportunities.
The Southwest Hub focuses on employer engagement through its WorkOhio Southwest Employer Network. Employers who join can feature their open roles on the Workforce Innovation Center Career Board & Perks Page and receive direct candidate referrals from the program’s network of workforce partners. This approach helps employers connect with talent sources they may not have considered before and gives job seekers more opportunities to connect with hiring organizations.
Building Connections Beyond Ohio
Although each hub takes a different approach, all three share a commitment to making workforce resources more accessible, strengthening connections among employers and community partners, and helping job seekers connect with opportunity. Overall, WorkOhio demonstrates how a coordinated framework can bring regional partners together around shared goals while giving each community the flexibility to respond to local workforce needs.
The session also encouraged attendees to consider how they could adapt elements of WorkOhio to their own communities. From building stronger partner networks to improving referrals and aligning training with employer needs, the discussion highlighted opportunities to apply these collaborative approaches in different regional contexts. As workforce leaders continue to navigate changing employer needs and evolving career pathways, strong regional partnerships remain essential to a more connected and responsive workforce system.
Learn more about WorkOhio and how its regional hubs are connecting Ohio’s workforce ecosystem.
By: Jackson Fort
Coordinator, Workforce Innovation Center at the Cincinnati Regional Chamber
