Cuyahoga County officials and Manufacturing Advocacy & Growth Network (MAGNET) officials came together on Monday, July 28 at MAGNET’s Manufacturing Innovation, Technology and Job Center to celebrate the launch of 3,000 manufacturing careers in Cuyahoga County over the past three years.

MAGNET president and CEO Ethan Karp says he is thrilled to have met the challenging jobs goal, which he says was made possible through the 2020 creation of the Cuyahoga County Manufacturing Sector Partnership (MSP) and collaboration between 12 area manufacturers, educators, workforce organizations, and government leaders to build a stronger, more inclusive manufacturing economy.

Guests gathered at MAGNET'sManufacturing Innovation, Technology and Job Center to celebrate the launch of 3,000 manufacturing careers in Cuyahoga County over the past three years..“It was great we hit it, we didn’t always think it was possible,” says Karp. “We launched during COVID, with the first programming beginning in March 2020, and we just reached our goal of 3,000 jobs.”

Steven Lovass, MAGNET’s board chair, opened the celebration, reflecting on how far the initiative has come.

“It seems so recent, but also so long ago, in 2019 we began with a vision to strengthen our region’s pipeline, to build workers ready and eager to build careers in manufacturing,” he told the group. “That vision sparked the launch of the sector partnership. Bringing together manufacturing leaders, workforce organizations to ensure the long term strength of our regional economy and building new ways of working together as a system.”

Lovass recalls the speedy momentum the project gained. “It seems so long ago that as programs such as Early College Early Career were hitting their stride, and access [was granted] to partners like Towards Employment, Ohio Means Jobs, and CMSD, a little thing called COVID hit.

“But just like our vital manufacturing industry, we didn’t stop,” Lovass continued. “We adapted; we kept moving forward.”

Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne agrees with Lovass in Cleveland’s manufacturing industry ability to adapt and survive. Ronayne and Cuyahoga County Council are a large part of the initiative, with the county investing $5 million to drive manufacturing workforce development through MAGNET programs like Coach U, youth manufacturing experiences through Towards Employment, and MAGNET’s joint ACCESS program.

Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne“Manufacturing is really the lifeblood of the Cleveland economy,” says Ronayne. “When Cuyahoga County manufacturing industry grows, we all benefit. This is a manufacturing town, tried and true.”

Cuyahoga County Council President Dale Miller was unable to attend the event, but provided a statement.

“Part of Cuyahoga County’s mission is to enhance and support our community’s workforce to demonstrate that our County is a great place to both work and live,” he said. “Cleveland was built on the power and strength of manufacturing, and the Manufacturing Sector Partnership allows our region to continue building this talent now and well into the future. We are proud to support this impactful partnership.”

With the programs initiated under MAGNET, partners filled open manufacturing positions with average starting salaries of $38,000 a year. These jobs now generate over $2 million in incremental income and sales tax revenue in Cuyahoga County each year.

Karp says the initiatives have created new career options for the younger generations, people working in low-paying jobs, and returning citizens in MAGNET’s prison-to-employment pipeline.

“These are people who wouldn’t otherwise even think of getting into manufacturing,” he says. “Many of the people in these programs are individuals living in the City of Cleveland and many are living in poverty, [they are] returning citizens who will have all the training they need by the time they get out of these programs, or [they are] high school students who enroll in [MAGNET’s] apprenticeship programming.”

Karp says that in addition to the 3,000 launched careers, more than 8,300 students participated in MAGNET’s Youth Manufacturing Experience over the past three years, and 228 students completed pre-apprenticeships. Additionally, 250 returning citizens were placed into jobs through the ACCESS to Manufacturing Careers program and earned an average starting wage. More than125 professionals graduated from CoachU leadership training, and more than 110,000 work-based learning hours were completed.

“This celebration is about much more than numbers,” says Karp. “It’s about real people who have found stability, opportunity, and purpose through manufacturing. It’s about communities that are stronger and employers who are thriving because we built a better system—together.”

Additionally, Karp credits the 12 companies comprising the Manufacturing Leadership Team.

“They lead all strategy, hire participants, design the programs, and work to coordinate all sector partnership activities,” Karp says. “They are the reason all this works.”
The participating companies are:

• Diamond Metals
• EC Kitzel & Sons
• Elsons International
• Fulton Equity
• Industrious Group
• Jergens
• KELTEC Technolab
• Lincoln Electric
• Nordson
• Oatey
• Swagelok
• Talan Products

“Cuyahoga County is proud to be a part of the Manufacturing Sector Partnership,” says Ronayne. “We remain committed to supporting the growth of local industries, reinforcing our long-standing dedication to economic development and industrial advancement.”

As MAGNET’s Lovass continued to reflect on the launch of the MSP, he displayed his continued optimism.

Councilman Martin Sweeney, MAGNET Board Chair Stephen Lovass, Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne, MAGNET President & CEO Ethan Karp, and Councilwoman Stephanie Howse-Jones.“Three years ago, many of us gathered at the Browns stadium to celebrate early wins and thank Cuyahoga County for its investment—an investment that became fuel, rocket fuel. And rocket fuel it was. Today, I think we’re all realistic that there’s still a lot of work ahead to fill open positions, to adapt as new technologies evolve, and to engage the next generation.

“But it’s wonderful to pause here for a minute— something we don’t do enough of, to celebrate what we’ve achieved today,” Lovass continued. “We set an ambitious goal: 3,000 new workers, careers launched in manufacturing. We just reached our milestone and launched these people into meaningful manufacturing careers.”

Ronayne boasts about how Cuyahoga County’s manufacturers are true assets to the region.

“The manufacturing industry is the backbone of our region’s economy, creating high-quality, well-paying jobs, and driving innovation,” says Ronayne. “Cuyahoga County is proud to be a part of the Manufacturing Sector Partnership, and we remain committed to supporting the growth of local industries, reinforcing our long-standing dedication to economic development and industrial advancement.”