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Chambers pitch internships, TechCred and targeted programs to upskill workers and support diverse businesses
Summary
At a Columbus Metropolitan Club forum, chamber leaders described programs to keep graduates and upskill incumbent workers, including TechCred partnerships, paid chamber memberships for diverse firms and entrepreneur training for disadvantaged communities.
The Columbus Chamber of Commerce and the Ohio Chamber of Commerce highlighted specific programs and partnerships aimed at building workforce capacity and supporting diverse and small businesses in Central Ohio.
Steve Stivers, president and CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, described TechCred, a state program that pays for employer-sponsored upskilling in tech-related credentials, and a private partnership the Ohio Chamber has promoted called FlashPass. "TechCred will upskill your employees, and the state will pay for it," Stivers said, adding that the Ohio Chamber had about 65 companies enroll in a FlashPass pilot in its early months.
Derek Clay said the Columbus Chamber runs programs to connect employers with talent and to support small and diverse businesses. He described the Urban Business Connection, a partnership with the City of Columbus, Franklin County and the Urban League of Columbus that has identified "over 175 businesses" whose membership dues the program has covered to give them access to chamber services. Clay also described Cultivate Us, a program focused on immigrant and new American entrepreneurs, and said the Columbus Chamber provides office space and other supports to partner organizations such as the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Both chambers said they are reframing diversity, equity and inclusion work to emphasize economic opportunity. Stivers said the Ohio Chamber renamed its DEI committee at members request to the "Corporate Responsibility and Opportunity" committee to emphasize opportunity and member preferences.
Panelists stressed that workforce programs must be practical and tied to employers' needs. Clay urged a focus on early childhood education, K'12 alignment with industry and certificate programs as part of a talent pipeline. Stivers also said chambers are supporting efforts that scale entrepreneurship in disadvantaged communities by adding training on businesses that can grow and create generational wealth.
Ending: Chamber leaders said they will continue expanding partnerships with educational institutions, community organizations and state programs such as TechCred to strengthen the region's workforce and help small and diverse businesses grow.
