The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) and OhioTechNet, on behalf of the Ohio Manufacturing Workforce Partnership, have launched efforts to develop a statewide K-12 manufacturing engagement playbook. The initiative involves cataloging existing resources, aligning these tools with Ohio’s Career Connections Framework, and identifying recommendations for a statewide K-12 alignment strategy in manufacturing.

To gather regional insights, OMA and OhioTechNet are partnering with the Digital Transformation Center at UDRI and the Montgomery County ESC to host listening sessions. The first, held April 17 in Northwest Ohio by the Northwest Ohio Manufacturing Alliance (NOMA), brought together educators, manufacturers, higher ed, workforce organizations, and MEP partners. The effort builds on tools in the MakingOhio career exploration toolkit, including the In-Demand Manufacturing Career Pathways Hotcards, that help students and families explore high-demand manufacturing careers in a clear, engaging format. 4/30/2025