Monthly Newsletter January 2025 |
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As we kick off the new year, it seems an ideal time to revisit what we mean when we consider innovation in the workforce. Over the last six years, the Workforce Innovation Center has been an entity outside of the modern workplace that partners with employers to examine what’s happening inside. We come alongside you as a trusted partner in problem-solving and reaching your goals to create workplaces that are successful and where people want to be. We have the ability test new ideas, both inside the workplace and adjacent to it with partners, so we can work collectively to create better opportunities for people and employers in our region to succeed. This collaborative, partnership-based approach was co-designed with business leaders as an innovative way to find new solutions to your talent needs, knowing that each workplace is unique.
In this year, we’ve also been thinking about being 25 years into a new century that’s seen significant changes as a result of technology, generational shifts, and the effects of a global pandemic on all parts of our life. Workplaces look different now – some are hybrid or fully remote or they’re on demand as part of the gig economy or they’re online as part of the influencer economy. And many of us still work in-office or on-location jobs with a changing landscape for education requirements, skills development, and advancement opportunities. These new workplace realities create opportunities for innovation within work environments where businesses have the engaged employees they need and employees are able to live the lives they desire.
Part of our innovative focus at the Workforce Innovation Center has been on connecting employers with the wide array of organizations in our region who are supporting people as they navigate life’s changes in their personal and professional lives. From credentialing programs to working with employee populations like veterans to helping people have the resources they need, our region is fortunate to have an abundance of organizations to advance our regional success.
We also recognize that sometimes innovating is doing basic things very well – listening to your employees, creating a culture where people feel like they belong, updating your policies to meet both business and employee needs, transparent communication between leadership and team members. We want to listen to your most important HR priorities this year, from basic innovation to something brand new, and support however we can.
As you have started 2025, I would love to hear your thoughts about workforce innovation and where else you think we could go. One of the exciting things about innovation is that it is not stagnant. So, we will continue to evolve and find better ways to partner with you, our businesses and our partner organizations to build a stronger community, together! |
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Employer Tours: A Free Program to Attract New Talent |
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In 2025, we are continuing the successful Employer Tours program we launched in 2024! Designed to connect local employers with Cincinnati’s workforce organizations, these tours provide host employers the chance to showcase their workplaces and share an inside look at host companies, their facilities, jobs, benefits, and culture, helping workforce organizations better match their clients to job opportunities and helping employers to fill their open roles.
We are recapping all Employer Tours on the Workforce Innovation Center blog, where we can share this information with job seekers, educational institutions, and workforce partners across the region.
Read our first two blog posts featuring UC Health’s pharmacy tech roles and Metalworking Group at the Workforce Innovation Center blog!
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| Read the blog posts | |
If you are interested in hosting a tour of your workplace, please fill out this form and we will contact you shortly about arranging your tour.
If you’re interested in participating in future events in the Employer Tours program as a tour attendee, click here to register. Be sure to check in with this form regularly for updates as we add new tours to the schedule.
This program is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number 21.027 awarded to Hamilton County, Ohio by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. We are grateful to the support of the Hamilton County Commissioners in funding this program.
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PARTNER SPOTLIGHT | Recovery Friendly Hamilton County Reaches 65 Designees and Growing! |
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Multi-award winning program Recovery Friendly Hamilton County (RFHC)—an initiative of Hamilton County Public Health (HCPH)—reaches another milestone in public/private impact: partnering with over 65 workplaces representing more than 17,000 employees.
RFHC has been a pioneering force in promoting recovery-friendly workplaces, leading both local and national conversations about supporting employees in recovery. While RFHC drew inspiration from early recovery-friendly workplace models, such as New Hampshire’s Recovery Friendly Workplace program, they continue to innovate and grow, strengthening their commitment to making Hamilton County—and beyond—a place where recovery is supported and celebrated in the workplace.
Their no-cost program comes with nationally recognized policy templates, nationally awarded trainings, consultation services, and much more. Join us in celebrating RFHC's recovery friendly designated workplaces! | |
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PARTNER SPOTLIGHT | Transforming Lives and Disrupting Tech |
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In December, the Workforce Innovation Center hosted a networking and graduation celebration to honor the participants who have completed their Google Career Certificates as part of the Women of Color in Tech initiative! We were joined by graduates, partner organizations, Grow with Google staff, and a representative our funder JPMorganChase for this important milestone. Enjoy this recap of the event and learn more about the initiative! | |
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| Gen-Z Survey - Looking for Additional Feedback! |
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After hosting several focus groups in 2024, we are still looking to gather perspectives from Gen Z for our new white paper. Please share this survey with the Gen Z people in your networks who chose not to go to college, also called STARs (Skilled Through Alternate Routes) so we might capture more of their insights for our next report.
A key purpose of these papers is to help local employers better understand, attract, and retain talent from our workforce’s rising generation.
If you know of any Gen-Z individuals that fit this description, please share this survey with them before it closes on February 6th. All responses will be kept 100% confidential, and we are offering $25 visa gift cards to four lucky respondents! |
| Gen Z STARS Survey | |
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| Career Board - Help Us Get to 100+ Companies! |
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The Cincinnati Chamber/Workforce Innovation Center Career Board is a free benefit for all Cincinnati Chamber members. Currently, we have 88 companies and nearly 8,000 jobs posted and we would love to get above 100 companies! Our workforce partners and job seekers utilize the Career Board and the Perks Page to understand what opportunities are available in our region and beyond. If you are ready to be added, select Add My Company to get started. |
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| Leadership Center |
 | WE Ascend |
 | WE Ascend is a leadership development program that empowers, prepares, and positions those in leadership to move into higher leadership roles. WE Ascend was developed to motivate BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) women to overcome challenges and break the glass ceiling within organizations and the community.
Applications close February 14, 2025
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| Apply Now |
| WE Thrive
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WE Thrive is a leadership development program that focuses on enhancing self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and foundational leadership capabilities. Through engaging sessions on topics such as mindfulness, establishing healthy work/life boundaries, and cultivating a network of mentors and allies, participants will gain the skills and confidence needed to excel in their career paths while embracing their authentic selves.
Applications close March 11, 2025 | | Apply Now |
| Cincy Lead |
 | Cincy Lead is a five-course leadership development program that empowers leaders and assigns each participant is assigned to a small peer advisory group for the entire program to facilitate deeper personal and professional connections. The program is designed to equip leaders with the skills and tools to accelerate their leadership in their organization and with their teams.
Applications close March 11, 2025
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| Apply Now |
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3 East 4th Street, Suite 200
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 | |  | Update Subscription Preferences |
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