May 2023 Update – Gallia, Lawrence, and Scioto Counties

Spotlight

Stats & Figures

Gallia

• Graduating seniors who are interested in summer programs have great options.  In collaboration with the University of Rio Grande, programs are offered at their Jackson location one day a week June 5 through August 11 for a phlebotomy certificate.  Their McArthur location is offering an EKG certificate, also June 5 through August 11, one day a week classes.  
  See: https://www.gritohio.org/summer2023/

Lawrence

• Lawrence had many exciting happenings during the second quarter. On the youth side, Fairland, South Point, and Chesapeake High Schools completed the GRIT assessments and coaching. They joined Symmes Valley High School as GRIT schools, working toward partnerships with area businesses for job shadow and internship opportunities. We are very pleased to have students from some of these schools attending summer programs at Shawnee State Bear Tracks. These programs run for three weeks in June and offer the students opportunities to earn a certificate such as phlebotomy, EMT, cybersecurity, and Microsoft Office. These certificates make the student employable quickly in an in demand job.
• Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with the GRIT team hosted their first Remote Employment Workshop in April. The next workshop will be in the fall. There are many opportunities for area residents to have employment with benefits and good salaries. The GRIT team, in cooperation with Lawrence County Economic Development and Third and Center, have begun community meetings to collaborate on ways to increase employment opportunities for both youth and adults. Exciting opportunities from the initial meeting include working with local treatment center, Land of Goshen.
• Judge Finley and the Lawrence County Re-entry coalition have partnered with GRIT to do assessments on those who have completed their sentences. Once they complete their assessment, they will be individually career coached and presented with available job and educational opportunities.

Scioto

• Recently, Scioto ESC in collaboration with Shawnee State University, Ohio Means Jobs and GRIT held Jump Start Your Future. This event is for Sophomores who have taken the GRIT assessment to allow them exposure to a variety of careers such as manufacturing, education, social work and business. Representatives from the building trades were also on hand to talk about electrical, construction, and other related occupations. Students were given the opportunity to experience many hands-on activities, including virtual reality sessions that highlighted different careers.
• We celebrated Karissa Holsinger, a student at Sciotoville Community School. Karissa, in partnership with Ohio Means Jobs, earned a Human Resource Professional certificate from SSU prior to her high school graduation. Other student celebrations include partnering with Ohio Means Jobs, Appalachian Children’s Coalition and Shawnee Mental Health to place two college students into paid summer internships.
• Scioto County also held its first remote employment workshop at the business center in New Boston. This fantastic space was developed by the South Central Ohio ESC and offers a nice, secure space for those who already have remote work or for those needing a space. One of the workshop participants has already found a great remote opportunity and has begun working!
• About 25 students from Scioto County are registered to attend the summer program, Bear Tracks, at Shawnee State. We are very excited about their participation and are looking forward to what opportunities await them!
• The GRIT special populations team is working with STAR Justice center residents who are within 60 days of release. Both male and female residents are taking the GRIT assessment and are being individually coached. They are presented with both educational and employment opportunities as well. Other rehabilitation organizations have reached out regarding getting their residents assessed and coached, and we are working to get them onboarded as well.