LIMA — Ohio Means Jobs-Allen County is getting ready to open its new workforce development conference center, which will act as a regional education and training hub for employers and recruiters.
The agency just got a significant boost from one of those employers: Nutrien on Tuesday extended $100,000 in grant funding to help OMJ-Allen County finish renovating the space, which is slated to open in several weeks.
The company is partnering with OMJ-Allen County to recruit chemical operators.
Nutrien’s Lima plant produces ammonia, urea and nitric acid used in agricultural and manufacturing products. Chemical operators there make $28.79 to start, with only a high school diploma or GED equivalent required.
Nearly 300 applicants have applied for one of the 10 open positions.
OMJ-Allen County and Nutrien are planning a study session later this month to help applicants prepare for a series of mechanical aptitude, mathematics and reading comprehension exams, a requirement for chemical operators.
The conference center, which can be divided into three separate meeting areas, is expected to hold more than 200 attendees at once. OMJ-Allen County plans to use the space for business gatherings, hiring events and training sessions. Employers can even use the space to meet off-site with job candidates.
Joe Patton, director of OMJ-Allen County and the Allen County Department of Job and Family Services, said the expansion allows the agency to host more job seekers and employers simultaneously.
OMJ-Allen County and the Allen County Department of Job and Family Services recently relocated their offices to 951 Commerce Parkway, which was previously the Heart Institute for Lima Memorial Hospital, allowing OMJ to build out the conference center.
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