Ohio Senator Bill Beagle...
Beagle-Widener Workforce Resolution Given Senate Support
March 2012 Dubbed “Skilled Workforce Recognition Month” 
March 22, 2012 

COLUMBUS— State Senators Bill Beagle (R- Tipp City) and Chris Widener (R- Springfield) today received unanimous support from their colleagues in their effort to designate March 2012 as “Skilled Workforce Recognition Month.” Prior to its approval on the floor, Senate Resolution 198 made its way through the Senate Insurance, Commerce, & Labor Committee. 

“Access to a highly-skilled workforce is a critical component to employers in their decision to relocate or expand and create jobs here in Ohio,” Beagle said, “As Ohio looks to intensify our workforce training programs to attract business and jobs to this state, it is important to recognize the wonderful partners we have in this effort in our Career and Technical Schools.” 

Senator Widener also touted the importance of training a skilled workforce. 

“There’s a lot of focus on workforce training right now in both the legislative and executive branches,” Widener added. “This resolution is a fantastic opportunity to shine some light on the vital role our career and technical schools play in preparing Ohioans for today’s jobs.” 

There are currently 56 post-secondary adult career education centers in Ohio, all of which are help to make up the University System of Ohio. Last year, adult workforce education trained over 89,000 adults in the state and served roughly 3,400 businesses. Additionally, there are 50 joint vocational career centers and 42 comprehensive/compact career centers that provide skilled training for high school students across Ohio. These schools had a 90 percent overall rate of placement of high school workforce development education students. 

Senator Bill Beagle is a first term state senator who serves the people of Ohio’s 5th District, which includes Miami County and portions of Montgomery and Darke Counties. Senator Chris Widener serves the people of the 10th Senate District, which includes Clark, Greene and Madison counties.