ED25OIE0G0108
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
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
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
Funding Goals
EDA WILL SUPPORT REGIONAL WORKFORCE TRAINING SYSTEMS IN DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING ACTIVITIES FOR ESTABLISHED SECTORAL PARTNERSHIPS THAT MEET THE EXISTING AND EMERGING SKILLS NEEDS OF EMPLOYERS AND THAT TRAIN AND PLACE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS INTO GOOD JOBS.
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Akron,
Ohio
44311-1035
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Related Opportunity
Greater Akron Chamber Of Commerce was awarded
Northeast Ohio Polymer Workforce Development Initiative
Project Grant ED25OIE0G0108
worth $3,084,371
from Economic Development Administration in January 2025 with work to be completed primarily in Akron Ohio United States.
The grant
has a duration of 3 years and
was awarded through assistance program 11.307 Economic Adjustment Assistance.
$3,373,571 (52.0%) of this Project Grant was funded by non-federal sources.
The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity FY 2024 Good Jobs Challenge.
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 8/29/25
Period of Performance
1/15/25
Start Date
1/15/28
End Date
Funding Split
$3.1M
Federal Obligation
$3.4M
Non-Federal Obligation
$6.5M
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
ED25OIE0G0108
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
None
Awardee Classifications
Nonprofit Without 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other Than An Institution Of Higher Education)
Awarding Office
1331K5 DEPT OF COMMERCE EDA
Funding Office
1331K5 DEPT OF COMMERCE EDA
Awardee UEI
WKC4W3K4MJH1
Awardee CAGE
8JWZ4
Performance District
OH-13
Senators
Sherrod Brown
J.D. (James) Vance
J.D. (James) Vance
Modified: 8/29/25