Earlier this month, JPMorganChase announced a significant new investment in Ohio’s workforce, including a $500,000 commitment to advance our work here in the Cincinnati region. This support is part of a broader statewide effort that directs more than $4 million to workforce partners across Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland, all focused on strengthening career pathways and expanding economic mobility.

Here in Southwest Ohio, this investment allows the Workforce Innovation Center to deepen a coordinated, employer-aligned workforce strategy. This funding allows us to expand our work around bringing together business, education, and nonprofit leaders to strengthen talent pipelines, expand access to quality jobs in high-demand industries, and support economic mobility for individuals and families across greater Cincinnati.

As our region grows, it is crucial that we continue to foster real opportunity for people in our workforce. JPMorganChase’s continued support allows us to focus our efforts on advancing a skills-based workforce strategy that aligns with employer demand.

I want to express my sincere gratitude to JPMorganChase for their continued workforce investment in Cincinnati and across Ohio. Their partnership reflects a deep commitment to our community and to building a stronger region where everyone belongs.

We have important work ahead, and I am energized by the collaboration we have across our region. Together, we will create more pathways to opportunity and ensure Cincinnati remains a place where both individuals and businesses can grow and thrive.

FEATURED EVENT

Ready to drive change within your organization? June 10-12, 2026 in Newport, KY for Leadership Sprints, a three-day immersive experience designed to help participants identify a key opportunity for meaningful change within their organization and build a clear plan to move it forward. 

Facilitated by Workforce Innovation Center Lead Consultant, Dr. Kevin Sansberry II, Leadership Sprints participants will leverage actionable frameworks to assess organizational culture and capacity for change, develop a compelling business case for change, and explore how to communicate change clearly and persuasively to a variety of stakeholders .

Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of what it means to be a change agent, how to assess their organization’s readiness for change, and how to align action with their values and goals. 

Spots are limited, so claim yours today and take advantage of this chance to manage change within your community.

WORKFORCE PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

​Hamilton County’s 4th Annual Small Business Day is set to return on Monday, May 18, from 8 a.m.to 1 p.m. at the Sharonville Convention Center. This free event brings together entrepreneurs, contractors, lenders, and business experts to grow impact and opportunity for small businesses across the Cincinnati region.  

Small business success is vital to the economic growth and prosperity of the region, and Hamilton County's Small Business Day is designed to bring valuable support resources together in one place to help small businesses start, grow, and succeed in Hamilton County. 

Attendees can explore the Resource Zone for helpful tools and information, connect with prime contractors and decision-makers in the Deal Zone, and engage with industry experts and small business funders who support business growth in Hamilton County. 

Don't miss out on this opportunity to get connected and discover how small business growth drives regional success.

FROM THE CHAMBER

Join us for our next WE Speak as we feature an engaging and empowering dialogue highlighting the impact, leadership journeys, and community influence of women in construction. Through open and honest conversation, participants will share experiences, strategies, and solutions that strengthen the industry and support women entering or advancing in construction. Together, we’ll explore how to inspire current and aspiring professionals to pursue opportunities while fostering collaboration among those committed to moving the field forward. Come ready to connect, learn, and be inspired.

Our panel features leaders who are trailblazers within construction:

• Michele O’Rourke CEO, O’Rourke Wrecking

• Liza Smitherman, Chief People Officer and Co-Founder of Jostin Construction

• Barb Smith, President of Journey Steel

• Moderated by Devona Stripling, Director, Women Excel and Everyone Belongs Here, Cincinnati Regional Chamber.

​WE Speak, brought to you by our Supporting Investors Medical Mutual and Sheakley, is a speaker series designed to inspire, educate, and provide networking opportunities to professionals who lead and to recognize leaders in business.  

NEWS OF INTEREST

​NKY workforce leaders say collaboration is key to solving talent shortages - Link NKY

​Nursing is the Surefire New Path to American Prosperity – The Wall Street Journal

​Gen Zers are flocking to these Midwest housing markets where homes are about 30% cheaper than the coasts - Fortune

​See which jobs are most threatened by AI and who may be able to adapt – The Washington Post

What Young Workers Are Doing to AI-Proof Themselves – The Wall Street Journal

How employers can ease worker anxiety around job security – Cincinnati Business Courier

Can Outside Nonprofits Solve Local Problems? - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Cincinnati State's economic impact to region has doubled since 2016 - Cincinnati Business Courier

Are you struggling to get enough hours at work to make ends meet? - WVXU Cincinnati

Aircraft Technicians Make Six Figures and Airlines Can’t Find Enough of Them - The Wall Street Journal

JPMorgan Chase: Powering Cincinnati’s growth by investing in a more coordinated workforce ecosystem - Cincinnati Business Courier

To Fill Air Traffic Controller Shortage, F.A.A. Turns to Gamers - The New York Times

Finding the Best Place to Work: A Look at Careers at More Than 1,700 Companies - The Wall Street Journal

Trump taps longtime insider to fix Labor Department headache - Politico