New Growth Highlights

Ohio is officially one of the first 10 states selected for the new national Apprenticeship America cohort — and the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA), representing the state, received $200,000 from CareerWise USA to help expand youth apprenticeship opportunities. New Growth Group was proud to lead the proposal development process alongside OMA and statewide partners to help bring this exciting investment to Ohio.

Nikki Glazer Stoicoiu recently visited UA-PTC, NWACC, and SEARK as part of the U.S. Department of Labor’s BRIDGE-AR SCC4 initiative.

New Growth is excited to begin a partnership with NextFlex to deliver Strategic Funding Consulting services designed to strengthen funding readiness and strategic positioning. The engagement will focus on funding strategy, partnership development, and aligning projects with emerging opportunities to support NextFlex’s continued growth and impact.

More than 100 students at Max S. Hayes High School are preparing to showcase their skills at the annual Student Skills Showcase, a culminating event that highlights hands-on projects in construction, advanced manufacturing, and automotive technology.

HHW’s Sarah Taylor will be attending the Collaborate Cleveland Women’s Breakfast on April 30, 2026, an event dedicated to advancing and celebrating women and gender equity across the region. This event — alongside sponsorship of the W.I.S.E. Excellence Awards — reflects a continued commitment to supporting and uplifting women in the workforce and across industries.

Friends of Max Hayes will host its Annual Student Showcase on May 12, bringing together students and industry professionals to share projects, exchange feedback, and highlight career pathway skills across grade levels. This year’s event will also feature special guests, including NASA representatives and Fox 8’s “Kickin’ It With Kenny,” adding even more excitement and inspiration to the experience.

We’re excited to partner with statewide organizations and community colleges on round six of the Strengthening Community Colleges initiative. This collaboration continues to expand opportunities and strengthen workforce pathways across the region.

Nikki Glazer Stoicoiu recently traveled to Northwest Arkansas Community College to conduct a site visit, deepening New Growth’s understanding of on-the-ground program implementation and opportunities. These in-person engagements play a critical role in strengthening client relationships and sustaining meaningful, long-term partnerships.

A recent visit to Northern Illinois combined a bit of baseball nostalgia with on-the-ground evaluation work for the Northern Illinois AMPED Consortium, funded through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Strengthening Community Colleges Round 4 grant.

New Growth is proud to have written a competitive grant proposal resulting in the WIN Academy, a charter school operating under BridgeValley Community and Technical College, being awarded $570,000 through the WV Professional Charter School Board’s CSP Expansion subgrant. 

New Growth will be working with Greater Cleveland Partnership’s funding hub throughout 2026 to provide grant research and policy signals research to a network of regional workforce and economic development organizations in Northeast Ohio in an effort to improve the region’s competitive position to win funding.

We’re proud to share that preparations are underway for the 1st Annual W.I.S.E. Excellence Awards.

New Growth is helping to develop a regional strategy for addressing steep workforce shortages in the Respiratory Therapy occupation.

Kaci Roach is presenting on the current state of AI in the workplace including its benefits and potential harms.

New Growth is partnering with OhioSE Economic Development to develop a strategic plan for the organization, which serves a 25-county region in southeast Ohio.

New Growth is working with Lorain County Community College and Mott Community College, two SCC Round Five grantees, to develop detailed evaluation plans supporting assessment of grant-funded initiatives.

Nikki Glazer Stoicoiu will be presenting at the Growing Rural Independence Together (GRIT) Days of Learning 2026 conference. Our session focuses on helping communities use data to drive evidence-based practices.

New Growth, in collaboration with the Cuyahoga County Workforce Funders Group and Compass Policy Strategies, is embarking on a due diligence process to learn how regions build data systems to assess employment and wage gains following workforce development services and training.

New Growth has been working with Case Western Reserve University to develop a $160 million NSF Engines application, a process that started over three years ago. Most recently, NSF visited Northeast Ohio as part of a national finalist site visit. NSF will make award determinations in Summer 2026.

U.S. Department of Labor announces YouthBuild funding to support education, pre-apprenticeship training, and leadership development for opportunity youth while expanding affordable housing.

U.S. Department of Transportation opens competition for University Transportation Centers to advance transportation research, workforce development, and innovation through higher education partnerships.

Department of Labor forecasts $145 million pay-for-performance opportunity to accelerate registered apprenticeship growth and deliver measurable results for employers and workers.

U.S. Department of Labor launches new Manufacturing Apprenticeship Incentive Fund to scale registered apprenticeships and strengthen the national manufacturing workforce.