ODJFS invests $495K in new Piketon Recruitment and Career Center
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) Director Matt Damschroder announced recently that ODJFS recently awarded $495,000 to Workforce Development Area 1 to support the opening of the PORTS Recruitment and Career Center in Piketon. The center will help connect job seekers with opportunities emerging from significant economic development planned for the region.
"When major employers come to Ohio, our job is to make sure Ohioans are ready," said Director Damschroder. "The PORTS Recruitment and Career Center gives Pike County residents a dedicated place to build their skills, connect with employers, and pursue careers that will support their families for years to come."
The PORTS Recruitment and Career Center — located at The Ohio State University Endeavor Center, 1862 Shyville Road, Suite 215, Piketon — held its grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony on May 20. The center serves job seekers across Pike, Scioto, Adams, Brown, Ross and Jackson counties. It offers career planning, resume assistance, job placement services, connections to local employers, apprenticeship coordination, and supportive services to help individuals address barriers such as transportation and childcare.
"The PORTS site is experiencing unprecedented industrial investment, with companies like Centrus Energy, SOCCo, Oklo Inc., Mission Conversion Services Alliance, and SB Energy bringing billions of dollars and thousands of jobs to our region," said Crystal Keaton, director of Workforce Development Area 1. "This center ensures that local residents have access to career navigation, training coordination, and direct connections to employers so they can build careers right here at home."
The PORTS Recruitment and Career Center is also supported by a $100,000 contribution from the Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative (SODI), a regional economic development organization focused on positioning southern Ohio for long-term economic success.
"This center represents what's possible when workforce development, economic development, and industry align around a shared goal," said Herman Potter, president of SODI. "We're committed to ensuring that the people who live here benefit from the economic transformation happening at the PORTS site."
For more information, to register for workshops, or to schedule an appointment, contact the PORTS Recruitment and Career Center at 1-740-935-8779, portsjobs@outlook.com, or portsjobs.com. The center is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Tuesday from noon to 7 p.m.
The PORTS center will supplement services available at OhioMeansJobs Pike County. Ohio has 88 OhioMeansJobs Centers throughout the state. They offer career planning, job training, and other employment services to Ohioans looking for work and to employers seeking workers. Computers and phones are available for free to complete online training, prepare resumes, and search and apply for jobs.