Cincy State is the regional coordinator for new JobsOhio program

On August 31, 2026, Cincinnati State was announced as the Southwest Ohio Concierge Service Provider for the JobsOhio Technician Earn-and-Learn Incentive Program, at an event led by JobsOhio and REDI Cincinnati.

For this new state initiative, the College will serve as a regional resource for employers, helping businesses connect with education and training partners to develop and expand earn-and-learn opportunities for their employees.

• At the announcement event, President Robbin Hoopes said Cincinnati State appreciates the opportunity to help small and mid-sized businesses in Southwest Ohio by “making it easy to connect employers to educational providers of work-based learning experiences.”
• Cincinnati State’s Career Center Director, Kelly Harper, will lead implementation of the program. Harper said the College’s selection for this role “positions Cincinnati State as a key workforce development partner throughout the region, and strengthens our employer engagement and our role in supporting talent development for business and industry.”

The Technician Earn-and-Learn program helps employers build and retain talent by supporting employees as they pursue approved education and training pathways. For participating Ohio employers, the program offers up to $10,000 for each employee enrolled in an approved experiential learning pathway such as an associate degree, technical certificate, or apprenticeship. Employees must meet milestones related to their progress in these pathways.

Cincinnati State’s selection was the result of a proposal submitted to JobsOhio by VP of Workforce Development Amy Waldbillig. Kelly said implementation planning has started, and soon a grant-funded team will be established to support employer engagement, partner coordination, data reporting, and overall program administration for the Southwest Ohio region.