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Funds to improve Ohio’s supply chain and logistics industry were included in $5.1 million in grants that Gov. Mike DeWine recently awarded.

“Columbus has seen significant growth in warehousing, manufacturing and last-mile logistics, fueled by e-commerce and industry expansion. However, workforce availability is an increasing concern,” Josh Compton, chief operating officer of ClearView Management Resources, told Transport Topics.

ClearView and the Columbus Chamber of Commerce are backers of a collaboration between the state’s supply chain industry and higher education called the Ohio Supply Chain Academic Network. DeWine awarded O-SCAN a $100,000 grant to expand industry-education partnerships to attract people to supply chain careers such as logistics, warehousing and trucking. O-SCAN was formed in 2019 between Columbus State Community College and the Ohio State University Max M. Fisher College of Business to help academia support the state’s supply chain industry.

“Supply chain and logistics careers, despite being vital to the economy, are often overlooked. Many people don’t consider trucking, warehousing and supply chain management as viable, high-potential careers,” Compton said. “O-SCAN’s mission is to change that narrative by increasing industry awareness, connecting businesses with training providers and ensuring that supply chain jobs are recognized as strong career choices.”

Concern is growing about the lack of a sufficient job pool to support Ohio’s burgeoning freight network.

“The Columbus region is a major logistics and distribution hub, with access to 77% of the U.S. population within a two-day drive. The Rickenbacker Inland Port, extensive highway network and rail access make the region a key player in national and international freight movement,” Compton noted.

According to 10-year projections, Ohio is forecast to experience a major shortfall in its total workforce. Within five years, 257,000 overall jobs are expected to be created that need employees, but the state workforce is projected to grow marginally at 0.3% — resulting in “a major gap (210,000 jobs) needing to be filled in order to keep up with economic growth,” according to the Supply Chain Optimization and Intelligence Network report.

The 64-page study, conducted by Compton and released in June, recommended mitigation strategies such as attracting a skilled workforce to relocate to the state, developing local supply chains, encouraging reshoring/nearshoring and job training in high-demand industries.

“The best way to ensure a community thrives is by investing in its people,” DeWine said. “Over the past five years, we have made significant investments in these workforce partnerships to tackle challenges in both education and workforce development. We are investing in collaboration so more opportunities can be created for Ohioans.”

DeWine awarded 35 grants funded by the Industry Sector Partnership Grant program, which supports local or industry collaborations that provide jobs within in-demand industry sectors such as manufacturing, health care and transportation.

Christine Boucher, director of the Columbus Region Logistics Council, noted that the supply chain industry in the Columbus region is growing. The council, a group within the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, is backing O-SCAN and helped create it to promote supply chain education by integrating emerging logistics technologies into academic programs.

“We are excited to be a part of the effort in supplying the supply chain with the necessary talent that is needed now and way into the future,” Boucher said.

Compton said O-SCAN will expand commercial driver license training pipelines by collaborating with Career Technical Education programs, community colleges and employers. Other goals are to support employer-led recruitment and retention initiatives to address driver shortages and integrate trucking into broader workforce development strategies.

“Trucking is a cornerstone of Ohio’s supply chain, and O-SCAN recognizes its critical role. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers are among the most in-demand occupations, with over 38,000 job postings in the last two years and an average salary of $55,000,” Compton noted. “We invite national stakeholders to collaborate with us in strengthening workforce development and securing the future of supply chain talent.”

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