EM Makes Progress on 2020 Priorities at Portsmouth, Brookhaven, ETEC Sites

	EM continues progress toward its key priority to begin demolition at the Portsmouth Site's X-326 Process Building, pictured here.

While adapting operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, EM has continued closing in on a key 2020 priority to begin demolition at the Portsmouth Site's X-326 Process Building, and is making headway in cleanup projects at other sites. 

At the Portsmouth Site, EM recently verified the half-mile-long building, used for uranium enrichment from the 1950s to 2001, as radiologically safe for demolition. View this video footage of recent work on the project.

"A lot of painstaking preparation will ensure X-326 is taken down in a manner protective of human health and the environment," said Robert Edwards, manager of EM's Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office. Edwards added that lessons learned and techniques developed at X-326 are helping facilitate deactivation of the site's other two large gaseous-diffusion buildings.

Having removed thousands of process gas components, EM and its contractors, led by Fluor-BWXT Portsmouth, documented millions of measurements to ensure the building and its contents would meet criteria for demolition and disposal. More recently, the building's large tan-gray transite siding panels have begun to turn blue with a fixative coating to lock in dust and any potentially friable asbestos, allowing them to be removed and wrapped safely. A newly constructed and lined water-detention system will capture dust-control and rain runoff water for onsite treatment.

Edwards said these and other recent projects at X-326 and elsewhere continue to move the Portsmouth Site on its path to final closure.

"With the safe demolition of X-326 likely beginning in fiscal year 2021, we will start to see a fundamental transformation of the Portsmouth skyline," he said.

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Industry-Recognized Credential Review

Help determine which industry-recognized credentials

are on Ohio's list

The Ohio Department of Education and the Governor's Office of Workforce Transformation request your assistance in the industry-recognized credential review process for Ohio's high school credential list. A survey has been developed to gather feedback that will be used in determining which credentials are valuable in their respective industries. The survey should take approximately 10 minutes to complete.

Students benefit from learning job-specific skills that can be used to verify skill mastery and educational attainment. Industry-recognized credentials are also valuable to employers, allowing them to validate the knowledge and skills of potential employees and saving valuable time in assessing the competency of job applicants.

The process to review industry-recognized credentials requires business and industry representatives who 1) possess knowledge of the career field and 2) have some understanding of human resource and hiring needs. Reviewers are not required to have prior knowledge of the review process or experience with the list of industry-recognized credentials.

Participate in the industry-recognized credential feedback survey here.

If you have questions regarding the survey or review process, please contact the credential team at IndustryCredentials@education.ohio.gov. Thank you in advance for your commitment to ensuring Ohio's students are earning credentials of value.

New Family Viewing Area Encourages

Safe Baby Introductions

COVID-related visitor restrictions prompt creative response by Women & Children's Center for safe baby viewing

Nobody wants to see Grandpa Joe climbing a ladder or Aunt Helen perched atop a wobbly chair outside the windows of Adena Regional Medical Center's Women & Children's Center trying to get a glimpse of the latest addition to their family.

A version of those scenarios is what has played out, however, outside the windows of patient rooms where mothers have been bonding with their newborns since precautionary visitor restrictions were imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prior to Coronavirus, an expectant mother could have up to five visitors at a time while in labor and delivery and an unlimited number of visitors once moved into the mother/infant rooms after giving birth. Once the virus became a factor, expectant mothers were permitted one support person - a spouse, significant other or another family member, for instance - during labor and delivery and for the remainder of their hospital stay for safety measures.

The change in protocols produced a considerable and concerning change in the behavior of some families.

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Opportunity to Recruit 

SSU Students on Tuesday, October 27

Shawnee State Career Services will host a Virtual Recruiting Event on Tuesday, October 27 from 2-5 p.m. Employers are invited to register at: http://bit.ly/SSUVREEmployer2020 to recruit students majoring in Accounting, Business Management, Engineering Technology (Plastics, Computer, Electromechanical, Digital Simulation/Gaming, CADD), English & Humanities, Information Systems Management, Management, Marketing, Mathematical Sciences, Natural Sciences (Chemistry, Biology, Geology), Social Sciences, and Arts (Fine, Digital, Performing).

Once registered, employers will be prompted to begin building their schedules to create 30-minute group sessions and 10-minute 1:1 virtual sessions with SSU students through the university's career platform, Handshake.  

Visit online  at https://support.joinhandshake.com/hc/en-us/articles/360052175994 for tips on getting the most from the virtual fair experience and to watch demos of what both group and 1:1 sessions are like during a virtual career fair.

If questions, please email SSU Career Services at careers@shawnee.edu 

or call (740) 351-3027.

TechCred 

Application Period Opens

Lt. Governor Jon Husted, who serves as Director of the Governor's Office of Workforce Transformation, announced that following the August round of TechCred, 288 Ohio companies have been approved for funding, which will help their current and incoming workforce earn the skills needed for the increasingly tech-infused economy.

The most recent TechCred application period closed at the end of August. During this round, 288 Ohio employers were approved for funding, resulting in Ohio employees earning up to 4,468 technology-focused credentials. The August round was record-setting, approving 1,227 more credentials than were approved in June 2020, which previously held the award record.

Since the program's start, a total of 983 Ohio employers have been approved for funding, supporting the earning of 11,941 tech-focused credentials by Ohio employees. This round marks a milestone as funding has been approved for over 10,000 credentials.

The sixth TechCred application period opened on Thursday, October 1st and closes on October 30th.

You can learn more about the program at TechCred.Ohio.gov.

Ohioans Can Now Access Training at No Cost Through IMAP

Ohioans can now access training at no cost through 12 training providers under the Individual Microcredential Assistance Program (IMAP). These providers will offer training for 71 short-term, industry-recognized, and technology-focused credentials to help upskill Ohioans for the increasingly tech-infused economy. Through IMAP, nearly 2,000 Ohioans have the opportunity to earn a credential at no cost to them.

Ohioans who are low income, partially unemployed, or totally unemployed can visit the IMAP landing page at IMAP.Development.Ohio.gov to work directly with the training provider of their choice and enroll in the program that works best for them. The IMAP landing page lists the eligible training providers and the credentials Ohioans can earn under the program, along with examples of jobs each credential can help an individual obtain.

Individuals interested in earning a credential can visit IMAP.Development.Ohio.gov to learn more.

Ohio businesses interested in connecting with the Ohioans earning these credentials can contact the Governor's Office of Workforce Transformation at Workforce@OWT.Ohio.gov.

Business Sustainability Loans

OVRDC is announcing a new loan program for small businesses and sole proprietors to quickly get much-needed Sustainability and Working Capital funding into their operations.  We hope you will forward this information to your contact list, and we hope to help as many small businesses and sole proprietors as possible with this program. These sustainability loans are to help manage cash flow and provide relief from the coronavirus impact.

The application process is online and easy. It only takes a few minutes to determine eligibility with a short questionnaire. After submitting the information, applicants can expect someone to reach out within 2 working days. 

Small business owners can go online now to get qualified https://www.ovrdc.org/rlf/business-sustainability-loans.

Manage your cash flow with a Low-Interest Business Sustainability Loan. Do you need working capital for your small business? Please read the details below and if this is a program that could help your business, complete the Pre-application... #BusinessLoan #EDACaresAct #RevolvingLoanFund

www.ovrdc.org

Loans from $5,000 - $25,000 for working capital

• Interest rates as low as 2%
• Pay nothing for the first 6 months
• No bank required
• Use loan proceeds for day-to-day operating expenses to work through the temporary economic downturn
• Term 3 - 5 years
• Low application fee $100

Eligible borrowers include existing, small businesses or sole proprietors. Businesses must be located in Adams, Brown, Clermont, Fayette, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Ross, Scioto, or Vinton Counties in Ohio.

Please review the List of Prohibited Lending Activities and list of required application documentation below before submitting a pre-application questionnaire.

Click here to view the list of Prohibited Lending Activities.

Click here to view the list of documentation that will be required if you submit a full application.

This loan program is funded by a U.S. Economic Development Administration CARES Act RLF Grant and administered by the Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission, a designated Economic Development District partner.

REFER A FRIEND

Refer Sunrush Water to a friend and you could receive a $25.00 water credit!

When one of your friends wants to set up as a customer with us we will give you a water credit. Make sure they say who sent them so we know who to give a big thank you to. 

We'd love to hear from you!

CALL US TODAY! (740) 443-6079 | (877) 563-0936

Pike Community Needs Assessment 2020 - Workforce Perspective

The Community Action Committee of Pike County is conducting a community survey to help us make decisions about the services we will provide for Pike County residents now, and in the future. We also want to gather the perceptions from our workforce to help guide and shape our future.  Your input is important, and we appreciate your participation. All responses are confidential and anonymous.

 Take the Survey >