Address talent gaps in the polymer industry by tracking educational and employer needs across various disciplines
Active Project Grant Awarded Last action
- Award ID
- ED24HDQ0G0452
- Recipient
-
The University Of Akron UEI DFNLDECWM8J8
- Awarding agency
-
Economic Development Administration
Department of Commerce
- Obligated
- $8,049,915
Award facts
- Assistance listing
- 11.039 Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs
- Completion date 41% complete
- Funding
-
- $7,071,802.00 Federal
- $978,113.00 Non-federal
- Place of performance
- Akron, OH 44325, USA
Award details come from USAspending.gov.
Description
- Purpose
- The purpose of this grant is to address talent gaps in the polymer industry by tracking educational and employer needs across various disciplines. IT aims to align workforce development programs with industry requirements, facilitate collaboration between educational institutions, labor, and employers, and create relevant training infrastructure. This grant also seeks to promote good jobs, enhance employee retention, and ensure responsive matches between employers and talent.
- Activities
- Distribute surveys to employers, industry, workforce, and economic partners to develop labor market analyses and monitor employer needs. Identify talent gaps and needs. Develop networking opportunities with employer partners. Create talent matching strategies and leverage labor representation to generate reports on worker voice and needs. Design polymer career fairs and recruitment workshops; and develop reskilling and upskilling opportunities for current employees. Collect input from technology hub committees to facilitate interactions between institutions of higher education (ihes), labor, and employers. Collaborate with industry and ihes to design and implement new programming, including: coursework, microcredentials, and certificates in polymer lifecycle assessment (LCA); sustainability curricula across multiple educational levels and concentrations; and experiential learning opportunities such as CO-OPS, internships, apprenticeships, and summer research. Collect and compile data on current polymer curricula and students served across awardee and subawardee institutions.
- Expected outcomes
- One industry survey and one labor market analysis conducted annually, with input gathered from the polymer industry cluster workforce development committee. Implement seven microcredential and certificate programs in polymer lifecycle assessment, offer sixteen new courses and one new minor, and serve over 360 students and 135 industry professionals through coursework. Additionally, provide experiential learning opportunities for 103 students, maintain a six-month postgraduation placement rate, achieve an 80% satisfaction rate from both students and industry, and conduct semi-annual polymer-related career fairs and recruitment workshops.
- Intended beneficiaries
- Beneficiaries of this program include students and industry professionals involved in the polymer sector. Students across various educational levels will benefit from enhanced programming, including new microcredential and certificate programs, as well as experiential learning opportunities. Industry professionals and employers will gain access to a talent pool better aligned with their needs through improved career fairs, recruitment workshops, and reskilling opportunities, while also receiving support to address talent gaps.
Subawards
| Subrecipient | Amount | Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Case Western Reserve University (8313) | $1,028,289 | |
| Central State University | $777,326 | |
| Kent State University | $1,739,650 | |
| Stark State College Of Technology | $777,326 |
Quick answers
Who received award ED24HDQ0G0452?
ED24HDQ0G0452 was awarded to The University Of Akron by Economic Development Administration (Department of Commerce) on October 1, 2024.
How much is award ED24HDQ0G0452 worth?
$8,049,915 has been obligated on ED24HDQ0G0452: $7,071,802 in federal funding and $978,113 in non-federal funding.
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