The Association for Advancing Automation (A3) and the Mahoning County Career & Technical Center (MCCTC) will offer no-cost robotics and automation training across Ohio through a $499,000 workforce grant that will help the state’s residents build skills for increasingly technology-driven careers.

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Awarded through Ohio’s Individual Microcredential Assistance Program (IMAP), the grant will support approximately 3,000 individual course enrollments through June 30, 2027. A3, MCCTC, and VAZA Consulting are partnering on the initiative to make industry-recognized robotics and automation training available to Ohio residents at no cost.

A3 will provide online training programs covering topics such as industrial robotics, robot safety, mobile robot safety, and robot business cases. Two courses, Robotics 1 — Introduction to Industrial Robots and Robotics and Automation Technology — The Business Case for Automation (“ROI”), are available now. Five additional courses will be added in upcoming months. Ohio residents can sign up for the courses at https://www.automate.org/training/ohio-training.

These training programs will serve students, educators, adult learners, incumbent workers and manufacturing employers, with a particular emphasis on helping small and medium-sized manufacturers develop the skilled workforce needed to adopt robotics and automation technologies effectively.

“Robotics is one of the most important technologies of the future, and the United States must make sure it’s prepared to lead in this critical area,” said Jeff Burnstein, president of A3. “The key to success will be the skills of our workforce, which is why this grant is so important. The more people we’re able to train, the faster we’ll be able to take full advantage of robotics and automation to create the better, safer and higher paying jobs of the future in Ohio and throughout the country.”

Building the Workforce of the Future in the Mahoning Valley

For MCCTC, the initiative builds on its work to connect education and technical training with the needs of employers throughout the Mahoning Valley and surrounding communities. MCCTC provides career and technical education for high school students and adult learners, combining advanced technology, industry credentials and partnerships with local employers to prepare individuals for regional career opportunities.

The new program will expand those efforts by providing Ohio residents with access to robotics and automation education developed by A3, while helping strengthen the pipeline of workers prepared for careers in advanced manufacturing and automation.

“The Mahoning Valley has a proud manufacturing history, and programs like this help ensure our workforce is prepared for where manufacturing is headed next,” said Mary Mihalopoulos, Adult Career Center Director, MCCTC. “By expanding access to robotics and automation training, we can give students, current workers and people looking for new career opportunities the skills they need while helping employers across the region build the workforce they need to grow.”

Ohio’s Individual Microcredential Assistance Program provides funding for Ohio residents to earn technology-focused credentials through approved training providers. The program is designed to help individuals gain skills that lead to better employment opportunities while helping Ohio employers meet evolving workforce needs.

Ohio residents interested in learning more about the robotics and automation training available through the program can visit https://www.automate.org/training/ohio-training.

About A3

The Association for Advancing Automation (A3) is the leading global advocate for the benefits of automating. A3 promotes automation technologies and ideas that transform the way business is done. Members of A3 represent more than 1,450 manufacturers, component suppliers, system integrators, end users, academic institutions, research groups and consulting firms that drive automation forward worldwide.

About MCCTC

The Mahoning County Career and Technical Center (MCCTC) serves high school students and adult learners throughout Mahoning County and surrounding communities with career and technical education focused on advanced technology, rigorous academics, college credit opportunities, industry credentials and strategic partnerships. Through its Adult Career Center, MCCTC provides technical skills and training that lead to industry-recognized certifications and state licensures, while working closely with local employers to connect learners with career opportunities and strengthen the regional workforce.

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