Northeast ohio has been a manufacturing and polymer industry leader for over 125 years, boasting 1,200 companies and 42,000 workers in the polymer sector

The region hosts north america?s largest concentration of polymer plants, machines, and materials. In 2023, the U.S. EDA designated greater akron as a tech hub for sustainable polymers, led by the greater akron chamber (GAC). Despite the region?s strong position, IT faces skilled worker shortages and gaps in training infrastructure, threatening global competitiveness. Nearly 10% of all manufacturing jobs in the area are vacant, a challenge compounded by impending retirements and rapidly evolving technology in the sector. These factors underscore the urgent need for a comprehensive workforce development strategy.to address this challenge, GAC will lead the advanced polymer and manufacturing excellence (apex) initiative, creating accessible career pathways in the polymer sector. Apex will leverage the work of the polymer sector partnership, which includes employers (including manufacturing works, an economic development non-profit with 336 manufacturing- related member businesses, dupont electronics & industrial and goodyear), educational institutions (stark state college), industry labs (akron rubber development laboratory), and community and labor organizations (goodwill industries, TRI-county regional labor council, AFL-CIO, and the alliance area chamber of commerce to design and implement sector strategies for training and placing workers into good jobs. Targeting portage, stark, summit, and wayne counties, with impact extending to surrounding areas, apex will focus on entry-level, mid-skill, and incumbent worker upskilling.service area: this project will serve the following counties as the project?s primary service area: summit (39153), portage (39133), wayne (39169), and stark (39151).expected outcomes: enrollments: 500 placements: 320