The 3E Initiative (Employed, Enlisted, Enrolled)

Managed by the Hardin Career Task Force, the signature 3E Initiative ensures that every single high school student in Hardin County graduates with a clear, celebrated, and intentional pathway toward future success:

• Employed: Direct entry into local high-demand industries and careers.

• Enlisted: Committing to serve and train in the United States military.

• Enrolled: Pursuing higher degrees, apprenticeships, or certifications at a technical college or university.

Partner with the 3E Program: Local employers can plug directly into this future talent pipeline through youth apprenticeships, job shadowing, internships, and career days.  Contact us at 419-673-4131 to get started.

Local Workforce Administration & Funding

OhioMeansJobs – Hardin County

Located right in Kenton, your primary local hub for job postings, recruitment events, applicant testing, and local training vouchers to help offset the costs of onboarding new staff.

Ohio Area 8 Workforce Development Board

Coordinates regional workforce strategy and directs federal funding (WIOA) to support eligible businesses with on-the-job training reimbursements and customized incumbent worker training.

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD)

A state agency that partners directly with local businesses to build inclusive hiring pipelines, providing technical assistance and retention support for hiring skilled employees with disabilities.

Career & Technical Education

Our vocational and technical partners specialize in rapid, industry-recognized credentialing, customized industrial training, and adult education tailored to your specific operational needs.

Apollo Career Center

Provides customized workforce training, adult education, and specialized certification programs in automation, manufacturing, construction, and healthcare.

Ohio Hi-Point Career Center

Develops customized training curricula for local industries, equipping high school students and adults with hands-on technical skills aligned with regional economic demands.

University of Northwestern Ohio (UNOH)

A powerhouse for high-tech automotive, diesel, agricultural, and specialized robotics/advanced manufacturing technologies, supplying highly technical talent to the region.

Higher Education Partners

Hardin County is surrounded by world-class higher education ecosystems that offer associate, bachelor, and advanced degrees, as well as leadership and corporate training programs.

Ohio Northern University (ONU)

Located right here in Ada, ONU offers elite engineering, business, pharmacy, and arts & sciences programs, serving as a premier pipeline for high-level professional and technical talent.

Rhodes State College 

A vital regional partner providing associate degrees, technical certificates, and customized corporate training. Home to the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), offering complimentary consulting to local businesses.

Marion Technical College

Focuses on accessible higher education and technical certificates in business, information technology, engineering, and health technologies.

Owens Community College

Offers extensive workforce training programs, applied technologies training, and industry-specific certifications designed to support advanced manufacturing and logistics.

The Ohio State University at Lima & Marion

Bring the vast resources, research capabilities, and degree pathways of a world-renowned university system directly to our regional workforce pipeline.

State Incentives & Regional Support

Leverage Ohio’s aggressive state-level funding tools and economic development networks to scale your business and minimize training costs.

Ohio TechCred Program

A major competitive advantage for local employers. This state program reimburses Ohio businesses up to $2,000 per employee (up to $30,000 total per year) when workers earn technology-focused, industry-recognized credentials.

Regional Growth Partnership (RGP) Northwest Ohio

Our regional JobsOhio network partner. RGP actively markets our region globally and deploys specialized JobsOhio Talent Strategy teams to assist large-scale expansion and attraction projects with customized talent recruitment.