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Ohio Third Frontier Supports Ohio Workforce Development By Saving and Creating 21st Century Jobs

Posted on: Wednesday, 2 September 2009, 08:21 CDT

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ohio Third Frontier is providing the funding, business development and workforce development tools needed to spark innovation and create the 21st century jobs that will launch Ohio's economy into the future. Ohio Third Frontier, an unprecedented and bipartisan commitment to create technology-based products, companies, industries and jobs, is the reason one Ohio worker has transitioned into a new high-tech job in the advanced materials industry after being laid off from an automotive manufacturing facility. Since its inception, the program has created or commercialized more than 500 companies and has attracted $3.5 billion in private investment to Ohio, a 9:1 return on investment.

After Shannon Swift, a father of five from Moraine, Ohio, lost his job at the General Motors DMAX plant, he wasn't sure how he would transition his manufacturing skills into a new line of work. At the same time, Ohio Third Frontier was helping Dayton-area Renegade Materials Corporation complete construction of a $5 million facility to bring the next generation of advanced materials for the aerospace and defense industries to market.

Ohio Third Frontier provided the bridge needed to bring Renegade Materials and Shannon Swift together. Working through a State of Ohio Workforce Development Specialist, Renegade tapped into the pool of displaced workers from the DMAX plant, including Shannon Swift.

"I would not have this job without programs like Ohio Third Frontier," said Swift. "It's a win-win-win for everyone. The state doesn't have to pay unemployment, the company gets help training their employees, and I get an opportunity to learn a new trade in the aerospace industry."

"Ohio's in-depth retraining opportunities and our work to develop an advanced energy industry is positioning our highly-skilled workforce for the 21st century economy," said Governor Ted Strickland. "We are committed to providing Ohioans with the skills they need to find jobs and achieve prosperity."

Ohio Third Frontier has been with Renegade at each step: from support for its initial research and development, to help from the Innovation Ohio Loan Fund to build this state-of-the-art facility, as well as business advice from the Dayton Development Coalition's Entrepreneurial Signature Program, which is also funded in part by Ohio Third Frontier. Shannon Swift received on-the-job training and is now working to bring Renegade's high temperature advanced materials to market in the aerospace industry.

"Ohio Third Frontier is providing the funding support and development tools to bring new innovation into the marketplace while also creating new business and workforce development opportunities for the state of Ohio," said John Griffin, director of the Ohio Third Frontier technology and innovation division. "The state's culture of collaboration between entrepreneurs, businesses, large companies and individual workers really makes any ambition achievable."

About Ohio Third Frontier

Established in 2002, The Ohio Third Frontier represents an unprecedented and bipartisan commitment to expand Ohio's technological strengths and promote commercialization that leads to economic prosperity throughout Ohio. Since its inception, the program has created or capitalized more than 500 companies and has attracted $3.5 billion in private investment to Ohio, a 9:1 return on investment.

For more information, visit http://thirdfrontier.com.

SOURCE Ohio Third Frontier

Source: PR Newswire

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