KnowledgeWorks and Ford Foundations Bringing Together Statewide Leaders to Focus on Educational Needs of 1.2 Million Ohio Workers

CINCINNATI, Sept. 9 -- Today KnowledgeWorks Foundation and Ford Foundation announce the formation of the Ohio Bridges to Opportunity Initiative, designed to promote educational opportunities for Ohio's 1.2 million "working poor."

For Ohio to compete successfully in today's technology-driven marketplace, policy makers must find new ways to boost the skills of low-wage workers. More than one million strong, Ohio's low-wage workers are a largely untapped force for improving economic and social conditions in an era in which the need for skilled workers is strong and growing. This new initiative will explore ideas and strategies for helping low-income adults overcome barriers they face in getting the education needed to advance to well-paying jobs with a future.

This initiative, which is funded with a $280 thousand grant from Ford Foundation, and nearly $750,000 in grants and in-kind support from KnowledgeWorks Foundation, ensures that the state of Ohio will benefit from over $1 million in investments to implement strategies and initiatives to improve the educational opportunities of Ohio's low-wage workforce. The initiative seeks to engage leaders from Ohio's community and technical colleges and career-technical schools, employers, and human service and economic development agencies, to develop a set of strategies for helping low- income Ohioans move up the economic ladder while assisting Ohio employers to recruit and retain qualified workers.

"Over 80 percent of Ohioans who will be working in 2010 are already in the workforce, yet many are not prepared for the well-paying, career-path jobs that are in high demand by Ohio's employers," said Chad P. Wick, president & CEO of KnowledgeWorks Foundation. "We believe that aligning educational pathways are the first steps to building careers for Ohio's low-income workers -- and ultimately stimulating Ohio's economy."

KnowledgeWorks Foundation will coordinate the statewide Ohio Bridges to Opportunities Initiative, with consultation from the Ohio Board of Regents, Ohio Department of Education, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, and the Governor's Workforce Policy Board. The stakeholder group will work collaboratively to develop a cohesive policy agenda that will seek to align the Ohio Bridges to Opportunity Initiatives' work with relevant existing initiatives, and develop new approaches to this pressing issue.

"The work that KnowledgeWorks Foundation is doing is clearly vital to Ohio's overall strategy to ensure a high quality workforce -- to establish Ohio as a leading competitor in the knowledge economy," said Governor Taft.

In early October, KnowledgeWorks Foundation, in partnership with The Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS), will be convening a "Career Pathways Summit" to bring key educational leaders from Ohio and Kentucky together to discuss issues such as curriculum alignment, workforce development, and other relevant issues.

KnowledgeWorks Foundation is Ohio's largest public education philanthropy. KnowledgeWorks Foundation provides funding and leadership for education initiatives throughout the state and is focused on creating and improving educational opportunities. The Foundation is committed to sharing knowledge gained and lessons learned with others in Ohio and across the nation to help inform public policy. KnowledgeWorks Foundation is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, and currently holds more than $200 million in assets. Learn more about KnowledgeWorks Foundation at www.kwfdn.org .