Association of Ohio Commodores awards $25K grant to Cincy State to support workforce development

The Association of Ohio Commodores Foundation Fund has awarded a $25,000 grant to Cincinnati State to support the College’s Workforce Focus Fund, which addresses important workforce needs, particularly in cases when other funds are not available.

The Workforce Focus Fund at Cincinnati State is used to provide scholarships for students, to update equipment and facilities, to develop new training programs, and to assist with outreach to junior and senior high school students about educational opportunities.

Barbara Gould, the director of the Association of Ohio Commodores Region 3, and member of the Association of Ohio Commodores Foundation Fund, presented a check for the grant to Cincinnati State President Monica Posey at a news conference on Nov. 22, 2021.

Participants in the event included (photo above, from left) Amy Waldbillig (Vice President of Workforce Development), Sedrick Denson (Ohio State Representative, District 33), Barbara Gould, President Monica Posey, and Elliott Ruther (Chief of Advancement).

“We’re at an inflection point,” Gould said. “Workforce development is key to the survival of our economy.”

“Whether I am speaking with union leaders or business owners, they all say they need more workers who have the education required so they can be trained for today’s jobs. Cincinnati State is ideally positioned to do both—educate and train individuals to do the work that needs to be done to keep our economy growing.”

Dr. Posey said the grant “will help us address needs that are crucial to our mission of supporting students and building our region’s workforce. We thank the Ohio Commodores for their generosity and dedication to our state.”

The Association of Ohio Commodores was founded by Ohio Governor James A. Rhodes in 1966 to honor Ohio business men and women who have contributed to economic development in their communities and in the State of Ohio. About 500 Ohioans have been appointed to the group since its founding.

The Association’s Foundation Fund awarded grants totaling $80,000 during its 2021 Winter Meeting. The grants support training, professional development, and other community activities that create and develop a strong Ohio workforce. The Fund was established in partnership with the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO), a regional community foundation serving the 32 counties of Appalachian Ohio.

(Information provided by Richard Curtis, Interim Media/Communications Coordinator. Photo provided by Elliott Ruther.)