(Photo by Amber Phipps) Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel speaks about the WorkOhio initiative at the Lafayette Hotel in Marietta on Wednesday.

Ohio Lieutenant Governor Jim Tressel visited the Lafayette Hotel, one of two stops on Wednesday, to kickoff his statewide WorkOhio initiative tour.

Tressel made his way from his first stop in Cincinnati to Marietta where he shared his recently launched workforce initiative with a crowd of officials and workforce leaders across the region.

On Jan. 15, Tressel announced the launch of WorkOhio. The program’s goal is to connect Ohioans with jobs and support from regional job experts.

“WorkOhio is a culmination of a listening tour we did all over the state of Ohio by assessing all of the wonderful opportunities we have for future and current workforce needs,” said Tressel.

He said the goal isn’t to add more programs but to work together with regions and the state to help and learn from one another so Ohioans can reach their full potential.

(Photo by Amber Phipps) WorkOhio Southeast Ohio Regional Job Hub Leader Janelle Comstock speaks about why WorkOhio will impact workforces statewide at the Lafayette Hotel on Wednesday.

There are seven Regional Job Hubs available through WorkOhio in each region of the state. The Regional Job Hub for southeast Ohio is the Ohio Valley Employment Resource.

According to WorkOhio, “Each Regional Job Hub works closely with Community Connectors – local organizations throughout your region that expand the help available to you – providing specialized services to support your job search.”

Tressel said the goal is to make job searching simple, personalized and interesting.

“As we traveled the state to see what opportunities there were, we saw that those opportunities are a little bit different by region,” said Tressel. “We’re going to be working hard to fill the needs of each region.”

WorkOhio is a collaboration between county, regional, and state entities all working towards helping individuals find a job that interests them and gives them a sense of fulfilment. An individual will visit WorkOhio.gov where they can select a region and get connected with a Community Connector who will personalize their experience.

(Photo by Amber Phipps) County officials and workforce leaders across Southeast Ohio gather at the Lafayette Hotel to hear Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel speak about the WorkOhio initiative on Wednesday.

“We have a Regional Hub leader and then we have all of the various Community Connectors that are already in place, whether it’s JFS (Job and Family Services)… or a coalition like the (Appalachian Ohio) Manufacturers’ Coalition or whatever is already in existence … we can use them to spread the word,” he said.

Individuals will be connected to a Community Connector based on their region and their personal interests and experiences.

Tressel said this is very collaborative work and it’s a great experience for those who are trying to enter into the workforce.

“We feel compelled to make sure we do all we can possibly do to give our citizens of Ohio, no matter where they’re coming from … we want to meet them where they are and give them the chance to reach their God given potential,” he said.

Southeast Ohio Regional Job Hub Leader Janelle Comstock said this will allow them to expand their resources and training.

“This is an opportunity to change lives, support businesses and strengthen long-term economic vitality in Southeast Ohio,” said Comstock. “We believe in the unique potential of every individual and we are committed to walking alongside them.”

For residents in the Southeast Ohio region, they can connect with Comstock and then be directed to a Community Connector who will guide them through what jobs would be best suited for them.

Comstock thanked all of the partners in surrounding counties who are collaborating and sharing strategies for meeting people where they are and improving the workforce.

“By aligning our strategies and our services and our vision, we are ensuring that every county in Southeast Ohio has access to a coordinated, high-quality workforce system that truly meets people where they are,” said Comstock.

While the programming is in its beginning stages, Tressel said they are going to be tracking the statistics of each region as it goes on to learn what works best for each region.

Washington State College of Ohio President Dr. Sarah Parker said this is a great commitment to the workforce in the region.

“This recognizes the simple truth that when we work together, we’re not just working efficiently but we’re also working effectively,” said Parker.

Visit WorkOhio.gov to select your region and get connected with local workforce resources and services.