4Cg Regional Strategic Workforce and Economic
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A Partnership Between Huron, Ottawa, Sandusky & Seneca Counties 4CG REGIONAL STRATEGIC WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 4CG Regional Strategic Workforce and Economic Development Strategy PREFACE 2 4CG Regional Strategic Workforce and Economic Development Strategy Regional Strategic Workforce and Economic Development Strategy A Partnership Between Huron, Ottawa, Sandusky & Seneca Counties Preface 1 PREFACE On May 9, 2020, the WSJ reported that of the 20.5 resource to guide the 4CG counties as they reboot million unemployed workers reported in April, women their local economies with specific and focused While writing this report between mid-January and comprised 16.2% and men 13.5%. The percentage assistance to the identified key businesses and March 2020, the United States was hit by the Covid-19 of unemployed by race was 14.2% for Whites; 16.7% industry clusters in their area. pandemic during this same time period. As the virus for Blacks and 18.9% for Hispanics. The hardest hit As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, some Federal spread across the country, with the first reported U.S. age group was the 20-24 at 25.7%; followed by the agencies have reallocated some of their program death on February 6, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine 25-34 group at 14.5% and the 55+ workers at 13.6%. funds to assist hard hit communities. Also, Congress canceled the Arnold Classic in Columbus on March 3. In regards to the level of education of the unemployed: has appropriated $1.5 billion of additional funds On March 9, the governor declared a State of emergency 21.2% had less than a high school education; 17.3% to EDA under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and in Ohio. On March 12, the governor closed all schools had a high school diploma with no college and 8.4% Economic Security Act (CARES). EDA will earmark and on March 16 all non-essential businesses, bars had a bachelor’s degree or higher. and restaurants. Mass gatherings of people were also these funds to its Economic Adjustment Assistance prohibited. On March 22, the Governor issued a stay- Nationally, the hardest hit industries were in the (EAA) Program. This money can be used for both at-home order for all non-essential workers. A listing of leisure and hospitality sector (-7.65 million workers), construction and planning. The Notice of Funding such workers was provided and a task force appointed professional services (-2.13 million), retail (-2.11 million), Opportunity will be issued in mid-May. The Chicago to clarify and resolve questions about worker status. health care (-1.44 million), manufacturing (-1.33 million), regional office of EDA has been allocated $200 construction (-0.97 million) and transportation (-0.58 million which covers six states (including Ohio). This As the disease progressed throughout April, the million). 4CG’s pre-covid-19 top industries were office usually receives $30-37 million annually. This Governor extended the stay-at-home order until May 1. manufacturing, health care, retail, hospitality and NOFO will likely have a two-year window. The EAA On April 22, the governor announced that all schools education services. program, though competitive, is flexible in the type would remain closed for the rest of the academic year. of projects that can be funded. EAA projects can be Ohio’s March unemployment rate was 5.5%. The In late April, the governor announced that in early May, used for infrastructure or broadband projects aimed 4CG counties unemployment rates were: Huron 8.9% Ohio’s businesses would incrementally be permitted to at diversification, entrepreneurship, or creating new (ranked 80th); Ottawa 9.1% (ranked 81st); Sandusky open back up. As of May 11, 2020, Ohio had 24,777 modes of commerce. EAA funds can also be used 5.7% (ranked 41st) and Seneca 5.3% (ranked 34th). In confirmed cases of individuals with the Covid-19 virus for non-construction, planning and implementation 2017, the unemployment rates for these counties were and 1,357 deaths. Of the 4CG counties; Huron had 38 activities that support businesses and jobs. All 88 3.6% for Huron; 4.5% for Ottawa; 3.4% for Sandusky cases with 1 death; Ottawa had 47 cases with 2 deaths; counties in Ohio will be eligible to apply. Priority will and 3.6% for Seneca. Sandusky had 52 cases with 8 deaths; and Seneca had be given to projects that support economic resilience 14 cases with 1 death. The accompanying report details a pre-Covid-19 and can show a direct impact to the economy from COVID-19. The economic devastation that has occurred as a result comprehensive analysis of the 4CG workforce and an assessment of key businesses, educational of this world-wide pandemic has not been seen since the In addition, on May 11, 2020, EDA made the following institutions, industry clusters and regional great depression initiated by the stock market crash of announcement. 1929. With the economic shut down, the United States assets. The document outlines the strengths and experienced a dramatic fall in the stock market and opportunities of the 4CG workforce and offers specific “Closures of nuclear power plants (NPPS) throughout an unemployment rate spike to 14.7% as of April 2020 recommendations to bolster the regional economy. the United States have had a significant impact on representing 23.1 million persons out of work. We believe that this report will serve as a helpful the economic foundation of surrounding communities POGGEMEYER Design Group BGSU CRD 2 4CG Regional Strategic Workforce and Economic Development Strategy through sudden job losses and a reduction to the local ∙ Engaging NCCs to refine economic development to early-stage strategic planning activities, public tax base. goals and properly scope projects in anticipation of works (construction) investments, and economic future EDA applications related to the NCC funds diversification initiatives. EDA has a strong history of working with communities and other funding sources. facing structural economic adjustments, including those ∙ Identifying best practices, writing and sharing With completion of the 4CG Regional Strategic impacted by nuclear power plant closures. success stories, and publishing a periodic Workforce and Economic Development Strategy, newsletter for sharing materials between impacted Huron, Ottawa, Sandusky and Seneca Counties can In FY2020, EDA is deploying $15 million appropriated to communities. now use the findings and recommendations of this the agency (EDA) to support communities impacted by ∙ Identifying diagnostic tools for economic report to secure additional resources and funding to nuclear plant closures. development readiness, regional economic hone the skills of their workforce and to assist their strengths/opportunities as a way to support Today, $1.5 million of this funding is available under strategic planning decisions, and the update/ respective businesses and industries. With imminent the Bureau’s existing Research and National Technical development of Comprehensive Economic deadlines for EDA funding, the timing of this report’s Assistance (RNTA) Notice of Funding Opportunity to Development Strategies (CEDS). completion, could not have come at a better time. secure one or more cooperative agreement(s) to provide ∙ Developing a training curriculum to help impacted technical assistance to Nuclear Closure Communities communities better understand EDA, its role in (NCCs). supporting the broader efforts of the NCC funds, and the importance of regional planning for The remaining $13.5 million in funding is now also economic recovery. available to provide grants through EDA’s Public Works ∙ Planning for social media/project rollout strategy and Economic Adjustment Assistance (PWEAA) Notice of for engaging communities in need of support. Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Interested applicants organizations should review the RNTA NOFO for information on eligible entities, eligible For entities to be considered for the RNTA funding activities, and past successful projects. Applications source, proposed activities should include the are due on June 12, 2020. development and refinement of best practices related to economic adjustment associated with nuclear The $13.5 million available through EDA’s Economic power plant closures and support for connecting these Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program will provide geographically dispersed areas into a community of grants generally ranging from $500,000 to $2 million practice. for implementation projects and from $100,000 to $350,000 for planning activities. The funding is In addition to the criteria specified in the RNTA NOFO, a targeted for regions that have been impacted, or can responsive application for funds specific to supporting reasonably demonstrate that they will be impacted, by NCCs should include details pertaining to the following NPP closure(s). items in the scope of work: To be eligible for NCC funding, a project must meet ∙ Establishing a formal national network of NCCs for information dissemination, training and sharing of the NCC Special Need eligibility criterion and may experiences related to closures. be used to make awards for any activity eligible for award under EAA, including but not limited TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface Agriculture Economic Growth/Stabilization Acknowledgements Construction Workforce Maintenance/Attraction Executive Summary Davis Besse Business Retention/Attraction Chapter 1: Introduction Education Redevelopment by County Chapter 2: Summary of Existing Healthcare Performance Measures Efforts/Documents Manufacturing Chapter 3: Economic & Chapter 8: