March 2024 Update – All Counties

“…what we want for everybody in Ohio and every kid and every child no matter where they live, and that is for them to have a chance to live up to their full God-given potential. We want our young people to get excited about some career, some pathway. If you’re excited about something you’re going to do very, very well.”

Mike DeWine, Governor of Ohio

Assessments This School Year

Students take the Future Plans Career assessment which identifies their strengths, interests, personality, and work values, and then explore careers that are a fit for them. Each student meets one-on-one with a career coach to discuss their results and potential career paths, with the end goal of developing a career plan. Below is a list of schools in each county that have begun assessments or are planning assessments for the 2023-24 school year.

Adams:

• GRIT’s Amy Queen attended the Manufacturing Summit in Columbus, and are collaborating with OSU Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Growth Advisor, Charissa Gardner and Adams County Economic Development Director, Paul Worley regarding future manufacturing camps for summer and fall.
• Collaborative work between BB2C, OVSD, and GRIT for a freshman IT Intern through the district is in process, and pulled together by data suggesting the student’s career path is solid in the IT industry.

Ashtabula:

• The Ashtabula County Technical & Career Campus has joined the GRIT Project and is rolling out programs. The Center is uniquely positioned to provide workforce training and support in that it hosts the program team for both youth and adults to gain access to Ohio Means Jobs services. By braiding the GRIT funds into their programming, A-Tech will be able to offer workforce education, internships and job placements to more individuals.
• A-Tech will offer summer programming in collaboration with the GRIT Project for graduating seniors and rising seniors. These programs provide workforce training at no cost to the participant. Check out the offerings here. https://www.gritohio.org/summer-training/ 

Athens:

• OU new President Mrs. Gonzalez has started holding Community Outreach meetings to get an idea of all county needs.
• The 1st AOMC Manufacturer career fair which was held at the Athens Community Center February 7th. With 15 manufacturers presenting and over 100 area high schoolers and adults attending. A great collaborative effort betwwen AOMC, Ohim Means Jobs, Project Rise, BB2C, Ohio University, and Future Plans/The GRIT Project.

Brown:

• GRIT attended the Brown County Chambers annual breakfast on January 18th.
• GRIT team members worked with the Brown County ESC at Eastern Middle school career event called Escape to your Future.
• Ashlie from the GRIT team joined the board for The Counseling Center.
• GRIT team members Ashlie Webster and Amy Queen hosted a career assessment refresher course for the Future Plans Career Assessment at the Workforce Development Center in Sardinia.

Clermont:

• GRIT will be collaborating and supporting the ASCEND program at Goshen High School.

Coshocton:

• Coshocton High School has taken the first step in engaging in the GRIT Project by piloting the career assessment and coaching process with a group of juniors and seniors. The school is developing its approach to workforce training within the home high school and will continue to explore ways that GRIT resources can offer expanded options for students not attending the career and technical center.

Gallia:

• Gallia High School and Future Plans are discussing placement of a Career Catalyst in the school to help students find a successful career match.

Highland:

• GRIT continues to collaborate with Highland County Workforce Leadership committee and the Business Advisory Council 
• Future Plans has hired a new Community Outreach Partner for Highland County. Welcome Hilarie

Hocking:

• The Logan Theater, which has been closed for over 30 years, is nearly renovated and will be open for business this 2024 season.

Jackson:

• GRIT will have a booth at the Women in Leadership Social
  • Date: March 25, 2024
  • Time: 5:30-7:30
  • Location: Markay Cultural Arts Center
  • Cost: $20 per ticket
  • Professional Headshots, Blowouts and Makeup (Cost is separate from the event), Panel Discussion
  • Light Refreshments

Lawrence:

• The GRIT days of learning conference “Leap Forward with GRIT” was held at Ohio University Southern located in Ironton, OH on February 28^th and 29^th. The GRIT team is thankful to Ohio University for their hospitality and use of their facilities. With total attendance around 200 this was great opportunity for people to visit Ironton and see what it has to offer.
• Community Outreach Partner, Sarah Redoutey, was able to present GRIT to the Lawrence County WHOLE Child Initiative meeting on January 16^th.
• Sarah Redoutey and Dee Hagans were invited by Ohio Means Jobs Lawrence County to visit the Lawrence Co. Juvenile Detention Center on Feb. 21^st, 2024. They were able to speak with students about their career goals. This event is scheduled quarterly.

Meigs:

• Meigs High used the Future Plans/GRIT assessment for all their seniors to assist them on a career path for after graduation

Muskingum

• The Muskingum Valley Educational Service Center (MVESC) held the AOP-20 council meeting, which over 30 people attended.  Discussion focused on developing the workforce at an early age and the effects it has on all aspects of our communities.

Perry:

• Northern Perry county is gearing up for the Intel growth anticipated for the area.

Pike:

• New Community Outreach Partner, Alison Shepherd, joined the team in mid-January. She is enthusiastic about getting started in her position.
• VR Day for Manufacturing Jobs at Waverly High School is scheduled for Friday 2/23/24.
• Ribbon Cutting Ceramony at Western High School on March 4^th with Governor DeWine.
• Next Pike County Quarterly GRIT Meeting is scheduled for May 2^nd at the Pike CTC.
• Alison Shepherd is reaching out to community partners and schools in Pike County to begin collaboration as she gets started. Email Alison at alisons@futureplans.org to schedule a conversation.

Ross:

• GRIT attended the Ross County Chamber’s 2024 State of the Community Event on March 8th to help celebrate all the positive momentum and continued progress in Ross County. We’re grateful to work with all of our wonderful partners in Ross County!
  • Chillicothe Mayor Luke Feeney gave the 2024 State of the City address
  • Superintendent Jonathan Davis, of Pickaway-Ross Career and Technology Center talked about how the CTC is meeting the demands of the future workforce.
  • Superintendent Chris Alford of the Hopewell Culture National Historical Park discussed what he has seen so far from the World Heritage designation and what lies ahead.
  • Chamber CEO Mike Throne provided an update on the Chamber Strategic Plan.

Scioto:

• Jump Start Your Future (May 3^rd at Shawnee State University) is a project by the Business Advisory Council for the SCOESC Member Districts.  This will be the 3rd year for this program that targets sophomores that have taken the Future Plans Career Assessment and have been coached.  Students are grouped with other students having the same career interests with the goal to expand the students’ knowledge of their career path.

Vinton:

• General Mills Global Hometown grant of $15,000 will be given to Vinton County for the project backpack. Information on Project Backpack-https://7hillschurch.tv/projectbackpack/

Introducing the Project REACH Team!

We are excited to share our Project REACH initiative here at Future Plans Inc. The project is funded under the Appalachian Regional Commission Inspire resource. This project is built to help three specific initiatives of reentry in Pike, Scioto, and Jackson counties. Our focus is to collaborate with the local treatment providers, workforce agencies and reentry staff to support individuals in successfully entering the workforce.