For more than three years, Ohio Means Jobs (OMJ) Jackson County has partnered with The GRIT Project to expand opportunities for individuals seeking career advancement. What began as an innovative outreach program inside the local jail has grown into a collaboration that continues to break down barriers and create pathways to self-sufficiency.
Sharissa Hickey, workforce supervisor at OMJ Jackson County, explained that the first joint effort with The GRIT Project involved bringing OMJ services directly to incarcerated individuals. “We did interviewing skills, resume workshops—everything we do here, we brought to them in four different sessions,” she said. That initial project laid the foundation for a relationship that now includes GRIT funding and the Future Plans assessment, both of which have become integral to OMJ’s approach.
The Future Plans assessment is now part of OMJ’s intake process for adults and youth. According to Hickey, it helps guide individuals toward careers that align with their skills, even when they arrive with preconceived ideas about their future. “Even if we’re not going to use GRIT funding, we still use that assessment,” she noted. “It has helped us a ton.”
One of the most significant impacts of GRIT funding has been its flexibility. Traditional workforce programs often require participants to meet strict eligibility criteria, leaving some individuals without support. GRIT fills that gap, allowing OMJ to assist youth who may not have significant barriers but still need work experience and mentorship. “Kids need that extra person in their corner,” Hickey said. “GRIT lets us help individuals who wouldn’t normally qualify for our programs.”
The partnership has produced numerous success stories. Several individuals have completed CDL training funded by GRIT, and one local STNA is on track to finish her LPN program this December. Hickey also shared the story of a young man who was homeless and found stability through a GRIT-funded work experience at a local 4-H camp. “He had secure housing and wages through GRIT. Now he’s employed full-time and still has housing,” she said. “That was near and dear to our hearts.”
For other OMJ centers considering a partnership with GRIT, Hickey’s advice is simple: “If you’re on the fence, do it. We thought it was too good to be true, but it really is this easy. GRIT fills the gaps for people who don’t fit in the boxes.”
Looking ahead, OMJ Jackson County’s goal remains clear—help as many individuals as possible access the services and opportunities this partnership provides. “We don’t have some big elaborate plan,” Hickey said. “We just want to make sure that as many people in Jackson as possible can get the services this affords.”