The Association for Advancing Automation (A3) and the Mahoning County Career & Technical Center (MCCTC) will offer no-cost robotics and automation training across Ohio through a $499,000 workforce grant that will help the state’s residents build skills for increasingly technology-driven careers.
Awarded through Ohio’s Individual Microcredential Assistance Program (IMAP), the grant will support approximately 3,000 individual course enrollments through June 30, 2027.
A3, MCCTC, and VAZA Consulting are partnering on the initiative to make industry-recognized robotics and automation training available to Ohio residents at no cost.
A3 will provide online training programs covering topics such as industrial robotics, robot safety, mobile robot safety, and robot business cases.
Two courses are available now:
- Robotics 1 – Introduction to Industrial Robots; and
- Robotics and Automation Technology – The Business Case for Automation (ROI).
Five additional courses will be added in upcoming months. Ohio residents can sign up for the courses at https://www.automate.org/training/ohio-training.
These training programs will serve students, educators, adult learners, incumbent workers and manufacturing employers, with a particular emphasis on helping small and medium-sized manufacturers develop the skilled workforce needed to adopt robotics and automation technologies effectively.
Jeff Burnstein, president of A3, says: “Robotics is one of the most important technologies of the future, and the United States must make sure it’s prepared to lead in this critical area.
“The key to success will be the skills of our workforce, which is why this grant is so important. The more people we’re able to train, the faster we’ll be able to take full advantage of robotics and automation to create the better, safer and higher paying jobs of the future in Ohio and throughout the country.”
Building the workforce of the future in the Mahoning Valley
For MCCTC, the initiative builds on its work to connect education and technical training with the needs of employers throughout the Mahoning Valley and surrounding communities.
MCCTC provides career and technical education for high school students and adult learners, combining advanced technology, industry credentials and partnerships with local employers to prepare individuals for regional career opportunities.
The new program will expand those efforts by providing Ohio residents with access to robotics and automation education developed by A3, while helping strengthen the pipeline of workers prepared for careers in advanced manufacturing and automation.
Mary Mihalopoulos, adult career center director, MCCTC, says: “The Mahoning Valley has a proud manufacturing history, and programs like this help ensure our workforce is prepared for where manufacturing is headed next.
“By expanding access to robotics and automation training, we can give students, current workers and people looking for new career opportunities the skills they need while helping employers across the region build the workforce they need to grow.”
Ohio’s Individual Microcredential Assistance Program provides funding for Ohio residents to earn technology-focused credentials through approved training providers.
The program is designed to help individuals gain skills that lead to better employment opportunities while helping Ohio employers meet evolving workforce needs.
