FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ??MEDIA CONTACT:
?September 25, 2019? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ??Carolyn Cypret, 614-995-1815

Ohio Launches ?TechCred? to Give Businesses Access to Top Tech Talent

(COLUMBUS, Ohio)?Lt. Governor Jon Husted today announced the launch of TechCred, a program that connects businesses with the talent they need and gives employees the ability to earn industry-recognized, technology-focused credentials, better preparing them for a job in today?s advanced, technology-infused economy.

?Employers are looking for workers who are prepared with the most up-to-date credentials,? said Governor Mike DeWine.? ?TechCred will better link businesses with the talent they need, and help workers with the skills they need to advance their careers.?

?No matter your industry, technology is having an impact on your business and the nature of your work,? Lt. Governor Jon Husted said. ?TechCred links businesses with the talent they need and provides a path for employees to advance their career. It is a win-win for Ohio.?

Through TechCred, ?businesses can identify the specific qualifications they need and employees they want to upskill toward a more advanced position. In partnership with a training provider, the employer can apply online at TechCred.Ohio.Gov. The state will reimburse up to $2,000 of training upon completion of a credential.

?The credentials will add to the value an employee can contribute to the workplace,? said Lydia Mihalik, Director of the Ohio Development Services Agency. ?This should lead to increased job security and higher wages.?

Ohio companies interested in investing in their current or prospective employees by connecting them with technology-focused credentials can apply.

?Our new TechCred program is a critical part of the strongest workforce preparation budget effort in Ohio history,? Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor Randy Gardner said.??Retraining and upskilling our workforce will make our businesses more competitive and our employees more prepared for the technology-based changing economy.??

An initial list of eligible credentials is provided, but employers can request a credential be added to the eligibility list by submitting an application for TechCred to be reviewed by a panel of stakeholders.

The online application opens October 1, 2019. TechCred is a competitive, merit-based program.

TechCred fulfills a commitment made by Governor DeWine and Lt. Governor Husted to fund the completion of 10,000 microdegrees each year in order to aid in closing the skills gap for growing technology jobs.

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Jon Husted is the 66^th and current Lt. Governor of Ohio. He serves as the Director of InnovateOhio, the Director of the Governor?s Office of Workforce Transformation, and oversees the Common Sense Initiative (CSI). You can learn more at www.LG.Ohio.gov.