Chamber News

Business is Booming | December 2024 Chamber Connections

December 12th, 2024

It is hard to believe that we are closing in on the end of 2024. The last 12 months have brought many changes to our community and the greater Central Ohio Region. And we are just getting started!

By 2050, the region is projected to be home to over 3 million residents. That will mean an additional 1 million people over the next 25 years.  Columbus is considered Boom Town by many. If we look at the definition: “A boomtown is a community that undergoes sudden and rapid population and economic growth”, we meet the measure. What will this incredible growth mean for our workforce?

As new industry sectors move to the Region, or expand their footprint, the need for a skilled and work ready labor force grows.  Many of the jobs on the horizon will require specialized training, resulting in a credential or certificate. Post secondary educational options offered by Ohio Technical Centers (OTC’s) provide adult learners with the needed education to fill these vital roles.

We are fortunate to be home to local options like:

Students enrolled in full-time programs (600+ hours) may also qualify for a variety of funding options:

Pell Grant

A Federal Pell Grant is based on financial need. This grant is part of the Title IV entitlement of the Higher Education Act of 1965. Since the Federal Pell Grant is an entitlement, it does not have to be repaid if the student completes their program.

Federal Direct Student Loans

Students and parents can apply for three types of federal student loans:

  • Subsidized
  • Unsubsidized
  • Parent PLUS loans

Each of these loans has a fixed interest rate and can be repaid over a period of 10-25 years, depending on the repayment plan you choose. Interest rates for all Federal loans are set each spring for new loans being made in the upcoming award year. These rates are tied to financial markets and are fixed for the life of the loan. (Eastland Fairfield Adult Education Financial Aid Resources)

Kelly Fuller 
Senior Vice President of The Columbus Chamber Foundation
KellyFuller@columbus.org