Workforce Development

With unmatched connection and access to Northeast Ohio, Independence is the region’s best location to attract and retain a highly trained and skilled workforce. Independence also offers access to job training programs through area colleges and universities, as well as state and local partnerships designed to keep your workforce ahead of the curve.

Ohio Means Jobs
OhioMeansJobs|Cleveland-Cuyahoga County (OMJ|CC), a collaborative workforce system of the City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County that helps local employers meet their human capital needs and assists job seekers to find success. The purpose of the organization is to provide resources and information through the OMJ|CC system to assist area businesses with their hiring and training needs in order to stay competitive in today’s environment and to provide residents of Cuyahoga County with the tools necessary for a competitive and successful job search. Below are the financial hiring incentives programs administered through OMJ|CC.

  • On The Job Training: Workers may qualify for funding up to $5,000 to help pay for short-term training if training is required as a condition of accepting a job offer. Reimbursement to the employer is up to 50% of the wage rate of the trainee. For small businesses, reimbursement rate can exceed 50% for trainees that are referred by and already enrolled with OMJ|CC.
  • Customized Training: An employer may qualify for annual funding to help pay for short-term training if training is required as a condition of accepting a job offer. At a minimum, all trainees must be registered and enrolled with OMJ|CC prior to their start date.
  • Incumbent Worker: The Incumbent Worker Training Program’s objective is to support training projects that will benefit local business and industry by assisting in the skill development of existing employees, resulting in increased employee productivity.
  • Ohio Works Incentive Program: This funding applies only to candidates that are receiving cash assistance through Cuyahoga County Job & Family Services. The objective is to accelerate the reemployment of adult or dislocated workers that are receiving cash assistance from Cuyahoga County. Workers may qualify for funding up to $5,000 to help pay for short-term training if training is required as a condition of accepting a job offer. Reimbursement to the employer is up to 50% of the wage rate of the trainee. For small businesses, the reimbursement rate can exceed 50% for trainees.

Cleveland State University
The Cleveland State University, Division of Continuing Education provides custom training, professional development, certification and licensing programs. Continuing Education offers courses designed to meet specific educational needs. The courses include language, business, computer and technology, social work, counseling, emergency preparedness and much more. Continuing Education can also partner with businesses to create customized training solutions to enhance the performance of employees in the workplace.

Kent State University
The Kent State University, Center for Corporate and Professional Development offers credit and non-credit customized professional development courses in organization process improvement and management/leadership skills. Kent State’s training and consulting is conducted by facilitators with years of practical experience in the fields of organization and employee development, as well as with significant academic credentials.

Cuyahoga Community College, Corporate College
Through the Corporate College, Cuyahoga Community College offers customized on-site and off-site training solutions and consulting services to improve organizational efficiency, productivity, process improvement, performance, and leadership. Several of the programs provided through the Corporate College can lead to certificates.

Cuyahoga Valley Career Center
The Cuyahoga Valley Career Center (CVCC) offers customized training to meet the specific needs of local businesses. CVCC can provide programs at its campus or offer on-site training. The Cuyahoga Valley Career Center will work with employers to develop new customized programs to meet the unique educational needs of their employees.