FastPath Graduates First 20 Participants
For Immediate Release
November 24, 2014
For More Information:
John Ivanic, City Council, 645-6798
Dan Williamson, Mayor’s Office, 645-5300
David Wayne, Columbus
State, 287-2161
FastPath, the workforce development initiative announced in February by Mayor Michael B. Coleman, graduated its first 20 participants today at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Created by Mayor Coleman and Columbus State President David Harrison, FastPath is a partnership among the City of Columbus, Columbus State, COWIC and Nationwide Children’s Hospital designed to bridge the gap between unemployed or underemployed working-age adults and the workforce needs of Nationwide Children’s Hospital, the pilot employer for FastPath.
“I congratulate all of the FastPath graduates and wish them luck as they embark upon new careers,” Mayor Coleman said. “I am grateful to Columbus State, COWIC Nationwide Children’s Hospital and City Council for their leadership in helping us close our skills gap.”Some of the graduates live in zip codes around Nationwide Children’s Hospital and have spent the past several weeks working toward a certificate of completion. The program was designed for in-demand jobs, with the hospital helping design curriculum. Columbus City Council approved $1.5 million for FastPath in July.
“FastPath and similar workforce readiness programs supported by the mayor and City Council are designed to help move people into jobs or better careers as quickly as possible,” said Councilmember Priscilla R. Tyson, chair of the Workforce Development Committee. “It is important that we continue to build partnerships with Columbus companies to help our residents compete and succeed in the workforce.” The graduates include 11 in the patient care field now certified in nursing assistance, five in food services now certified by ServSafe and in customer service, four in building services now certified in occupational safety and health. All graduates have participated in mock interviews with employers to prepare them for fulltime jobs in their new fields at various area job sites.
“We are grateful to the mayor and the city for partnering with Columbus State in creating this vital program that will bridge the gap between un- or under-employed residents and the high-performance workplace,” said President Harrison. “FastPath will provide adults of all ages employable skills to prepare them for careers in health care, skilled trades, hospitality and logistics.”