(January 13, 2026)
The Charles L. Shor Foundation has made a visionary investment in the Employers’ Workforce Coalition, a leadership initiative of The Dayton Foundation and other regional agencies, to launch the Manufacturing Skills Sprint. This new initiative is designed to quickly prepare participants for good manufacturing jobs and strengthen the region’s talent pipeline. The work is currently centered in Montgomery County but intentionally designed to serve the broader Western Ohio region.
Western Ohio is entering a transformative moment. With major investments from GM Duramax, Semcorp, Sierra Nevada Corporation, United Alloy, Westrafo America and many more, the region is rapidly becoming a national center for advanced manufacturing. As these companies expand and thousands of new jobs emerge, one challenge is increasingly clear: the need for more trained workers to meet growing employer demand.
“The Manufacturing Skills Sprint is an important step toward helping employers meet their talent needs,” said Joe Sciabica, executive director of the Employers’ Workforce Coalition. “The Charles L. Shor Foundation’s support allows us to test a practical, employer-connected model that benefits both jobseekers and manufacturers across Western Ohio.”
The effort is a partnership with Sinclair Community College, one of the nation’s leading educational institutions, which will deliver hands-on training beginning in spring 2026. Working alongside the Dayton Region Manufacturers Association (DRMA), the initiative ensures employers remain closely connected to the work—helping shape training, opening internship opportunities and informing system-level learning to support long-term scalability.
“Employers tell us every day that finding skilled talent is their number one challenge,” said Amy Schrimpf, president of DRMA and member of the EWC Executive Leadership Group. “This initiative brings employers to the table as active partners and creates new pathways into meaningful manufacturing careers.”
A core feature of the Manufacturing Skills Sprint is the use of internships and other work-based learning experiences that allow participants to apply and validate what they learn in the classroom. By pairing hands-on technical training with real work experience, the Sprint aims to accelerate job readiness and strengthen the match between talent and employer needs.
“Internships are one of the most powerful ways to turn technical training into proven, on-the-job performance,” said Dr. Cassie Barlow, president of Strategic Ohio Council for Higher Education and member of the EWC Executive Leadership Group. “By giving Sprint participants real work experience in modern manufacturing environments, employers can validate the skills learned in the classroom, build participants’ confidence and accelerate their transition into high-demand roles.”
Small and mid-sized manufacturers, which are the backbone of Western Ohio’s economy, are especially at risk as they struggle to compete with larger firms for talent. While U.S. manufacturing may need up to 3.8 million new workers by 2033, nearly half of those positions could go unfilled without action. A major challenge remains: many Americans still lack awareness of the opportunities in modern manufacturing, often holding outdated perceptions of the industry. These misconceptions remain a significant barrier to attracting talent (Deloitte & The Manufacturing Institute, 2024). Short-term, employer-connected training programs like the Manufacturing Skills Sprint offer a proven, data-informed solution to build the local talent pipeline and protect supply-chain stability.
For more information about the Manufacturing Skills Sprint, please contact Dani Heeter, director of the Office of Work-based Learning for Sinclair Community College, at dani.heeter@sinclair.edu.
About The Dayton Foundation
The Dayton Foundation has been the trusted charitable giving resource for thousands of individuals, families and organizations of all giving levels since 1921. Ranked among the oldest and largest community foundations in the nation, the Foundation has awarded more than $1.5 billion in grants since its founding, with current assets from all funds totaling $1.3 billion. For more information about how The Dayton Foundation can help you help others, visit daytonfoundation.org or follow the Foundation on Facebook, X or LinkedIn.
