As the life sciences industry grows here in Ohio, we are laser-focused on workforce development: Ensuring Ohioans have access to the training they need to succeed in new life sciences jobs and ensuring companies have access to the right people to get the jobs done. As our region’s life sciences industry grows, there is a special need for biomanufacturing production technicians, who specialize in precision and who play crucial roles in getting lifesaving treatments, medications and gene therapies to the people who need them.
That’s why I’m so pleased to be sharing our latest effort: the Ohio Life Sciences (OLS) Biotechnology Bootcamp at Columbus State Community College. The bootcamp is a short-term certificate program that develops the foundational knowledge and skills individuals need to get jobs in biomanufacturing and the life sciences. The curriculum is developed by Columbus State, in partnership with central Ohio biotech and biopharmaceutical companies. It’s a 12-week program, and it sets the stage for people with little or no life sciences experience to launch their careers in this life changing industry — life changing for Ohioans who can secure a position that pays $25 an hour or more, and for the patients that will be healed by the medicines and devices they help make.
There is no cost for the bootcamp because OLS is investing $250,000 from its state-funded workforce grant to seed the program. This means that up to 80 people who choose to pursue this certificate can do so without any financial burden — and it is our goal to scale up this program over the coming years. Our grant will also cover costs related to educating future students about the benefits of a career in the life sciences.
This program will benefit those who are underemployed, changing careers, military veterans, high school and career-technical graduates, as well as those who are simply new to the biotech and life sciences industry. And it will also benefit our life sciences and biotech companies, which have told us time and again that a skilled workforce is one of the most critical things they need to succeed.
The need is enormous. Life sciences companies like Amgen, Andelyn, Charles River, AmplifyBio, National Resilience, Abbott, American Regent, AtriCure, Forge and Pharmavite are growing rapidly in central Ohio and across the state. In the last four years, life sciences companies have invested more than $2 billion into new Ohio facilities and expansions, creating more than 7,350 new jobs. Life sciences positions pay well — averaging salaries around $90,000 a year, about 40% higher than the average annual income in Columbus.
And the partnerships between industry and higher education institutions like Columbus State are important: They help ensure that students are learning the right skills for the jobs companies have available. Our team is helping create even more partnerships with other educational partners throughout the state — our association and our companies have to invest where we know it will directly benefit life sciences workforce development.
If you’d like to learn more about the program, please visit https://www.cscc.edu/workforce/individuals/accelerated-training-centers/biotechnology-manufacturing/.
And if you have thoughts or ideas about how we can continue to develop Ohio’s life sciences workforce, please reply — I’d love to hear about them!
Sincerely,
Eddie