Organization Name: Stark Tuscarawas Workforce Development Board
Executive Leader / Title: JoAnn Breedlove - Executive Director
Website: www.stwdb.org
Tell us about your organization’s mission and the communities you serve.
Stark Tuscarawas Workforce Development Board is committed to strengthening the local workforce by connecting individuals to meaningful employment opportunities and helping businesses find the talent they need to grow. Our mission centers on building a skilled, resilient workforce that supports long-term economic success across the region.Through partnerships with local employers, education providers, and community organizations, we work to align workforce needs with in-demand career opportunities while strengthening the workforce system as a whole. We provide oversight of the OhioMeansJobs centers in Stark and Tuscarawas Counties, located in northeast Ohio, and also known as American Job Centers, which deliver career services such as resume support, job search guidance, and training opportunities to job seekers, as well such employer services that include talent acquisition assistance and incumbent worker training opportunities. We support and participate in sector partnership activities and other collaborative workforce-focused initiatives and strive to address the evolving needs of our regional economy—allowing us to drive solutions that benefit businesses, individuals, and the broader community.
What are the key services and programs you offer?
Stark Tuscarawas Workforce Development Board (STWDB) provides oversight of the OhioMeansJobs Stark & Tuscarawas Counties centers, which deliver direct services to job seekers and employers across the region.
Through these centers, individuals can access support as they navigate the workforce—including resume assistance, job search guidance, interview preparation, and job leads tailored to their strengths. The centers also offer funding support for training opportunities leading to in-demand careers for eligible individuals, along with specialized programs for youth facing barriers to employment, as well as services to assist individuals receiving unemployment insurance benefits to create a customized plan to connect to employment opportunities quickly.
For employers, talent acquisition services/support help connect employers with qualified candidates. Resources to assist eligible employers with incumbent worker training services are available.STWDB's strategic work focuses on strengthening the workforce system by expanding resources, coordinating efforts among local partners, and leading initiatives that respond to the region's evolving workforce needs.
As one example, the Business Resource Network (BRN) is a workforce-centric solutions initiative designed to provide stakeholders and the community Employer Insight through aggregated, hyper-local and current insights on employer needs, Comprehensive Resources in the form of local and up-to-date access to workforce programs, training opportunities, and business support services, and Strategic Connections between employers and workforce solution providers. Additionally, Data Analysis provides partners an opportunity to convene and discuss aggregate workforce data to discuss how best to serve area businesses, along with Workforce Insight to inform future program and service needs.
STWDB also publishes a Workforce Trends Dashboard on its website which is powered by e-IMPACT, a Lightcast Company, to better inform the community and stakeholders on the population and available talent in the region, available jobs and employer needs, and alignment and talent gaps.
These are a few examples of efforts to create a more connected and effective system that supports businesses, job seekers, and long-term economic growth
Can you share a success story or impactful moment from your work?
Through the OhioMeansJobs centers that are at the epicenter of providing services and resources to individuals and employers, we are happy to share Saizya's story, which is one of many, where individuals and employers have connected with resources that have changed the trajectory of their lives and helped to support their business.
Saizya was served through OhioMeansJobs Stark County and desired to pursue her goal of becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), a path she had been working toward since graduating in 2010. Previous life and financial barriers had delayed her plans, but with a renewed focus, she took the next step forward.
With support from WIOA Title 1 funding made available through OhioMeansJobs Stark & Tuscarawas Counties, Saizya enrolled in the Canton City Schools LPN program. Throughout the program, she navigated challenges including transportation and childcare, while maintaining a 90% GPA and steadily building confidence in her abilities. As she shared, “Not only was I making it, I was also doing pretty well in my classes." After successfully passing the NCLEX, Saizya secured employment at Belden Village Nursing and Rehab, earning $30 per hour. She credits OhioMeansJobs Stark County for helping her move past barriers, complete her training, and establish a more stable future for herself and her son.
Additionally, Dover Chemical Company in Tuscarawas County utilized the Incumbent Worker Training Program (IWTP) to provide leadership and workplace skills training for 15 employees. By completing the ten-session program, participants gained key skills, earned $96,000 in combined raises, and accessed new promotional opportunities within the company which strengthened current leaders and prepared the next generation to fill critical roles, supporting a stronger, more sustainable workforce.
MUS Membership & Collaboration:
Stark Tuscarawas Workforce Development Board joined MUS prior to its formal creation as a 501C-3 nonprofit and has been considered one of its "founding" members. An opportunity to learn from workforce development board peers in the midwest region was of great interest. Best practice sharing, the "innovation lab" concept, and participation in consortium grant applications, if appropriate, fueled the application submission when a member opening presented itself.
How has being a part of MUS benefited your organization so far?We have learned so much from our peer MUS member organizations both through our membership as well as through MUS convenings, which provide an opportunity to visit a member community and fully learn/embrace the public workforce system in that community, along with the partnerships and collaborations that make the system work. Workforce is "local" and to learn how systems are serving individuals and employers in those specific regions/communities is always eye-opening and continues to reaffirm the workforce system and its importance in changing lives and communities.We are also a part of a collaborative Pathway Home 6 grant through MUS that has provided us leverage to participate in this important work.
Are there any partnerships or collaborations that have grown from your MUS membership?Our membership has provided access to many different resources and relationships. Member colleagues have been a wealth of information and support over the years. MUS staff are committed to engaging and fostering opportunities for partnerships, collaborations, introductions and resources for their members and affiliate members. Our Workforce Trends Dashboards were made available through a connection/partnership with Lightcast and we appreciate the opportunity to access labor market information through MUS's partnership with Chmura and their JobsEQ platform.
Fun Fact - Share something unique about your organization, team, or history that people may not know.
Just over a year ago, we were a mighty team of three staffers. Currently, we are a staff of six and soon will onboard a seventh team member and excited for the future.