Lorain County JVS Wins $166K as Career Z Challenge Winner: Leading Ohio’s Workforce Future

National Recognition for Workforce Innovation

Lorain County JVS has been named a Phase 3 Winner in the U.S. Department of Education’s Career Z Challenge, a national competition designed to expand high-quality work-based learning (WBL) opportunities. LCJVS is one of just nine winners across the country, earning $166,666 to strengthen and scale innovative WBL and pre-apprenticeship programs

This recognition positions LCJVS as a leader in Ohio’s talent economy, aligning with the state’s workforce readiness strategies while fueling Lorain County’s population growth and economic expansion.

Proven Workforce Impact in Lorain County

Over the past year, LCJVS has delivered measurable results that demonstrate the power of workforce partnerships:

• 63% growth in WBL participation across all programs
• 61,489.55 hours of work-based learning completed during the 2024–25 school year .
• 205 industry partnerships, with 53 new employers added in 2024–25
• 154 summer interns gained career skills while earning wages
• Credentialing surge: 12-point credential earners grew from 92 to 1,277, and 215 students completed state-recognized pre-apprenticeships

This momentum reflects Lorain County JVS’s commitment to building a workforce pipeline that meets the demands of employers while preparing students for high-wage, high-demand careers.

Strategic Business and Education Alignment

LCJVS’s Career Z success is rooted in its business-program alignment with leading employers and regional partners, including:

Cleveland Clinic, Mercy Health, Skylift, Wellington Implement, Ridge Tool, Cutting Dynamics (Re:Build Manufacturing), Kenworth of Cleveland, Team NEO, JobsOhio, MAGNET, and Manufacturing Works

These collaborations ensure students are career-ready while strengthening Lorain County’s role in Ohio’s broader economic and workforce development strategy.

Leadership Perspectives

• Michelle McClintic, Supervisor, High School, Lorain County JVS
  “This award reflects the heart of our mission at Lorain County JVS: ensuring all students have meaningful exposure to career pathways and authentic work-based learning opportunities. As both a Career Z Challenge winner and now the 2025 YouScience Brightpath Work-Based Learning Professional of the Year, our work shows how intentional programming and strong employer partnerships open doors for students. I am proud of the way our efforts are shaping futures and strengthening Ohio’s talent pipeline.”
• Mathias Hauck, Career Service Specialist, Lorain County JVS
   “Lorain County JVS students don’t just graduate — they graduate with credentials, hands-on experience, and career pathways. This award proves the strength of our partnerships and the bright future of our talent pipeline.”
• Dr. Glenn Faircloth, Superintendent & CEO, Lorain County JVS
   “Being named a Career Z Challenge Phase 3 Winner is more than a national recognition; it’s a statement that Lorain County is leading Ohio’s workforce future. Our programs align with economic growth, making LCJVS a thought partner in building Ohio’s talent economy.”
• Megan Champagne, Associate Principal, Lorain County JVS
   “Every new partnership we bring into the JVS expands opportunities for our students. This award empowers us to scale employer engagement and build stronger, future-ready career pathways.”
• Lisa Hutson, President & CEO, ONE Lorain County
   “We are bridging education, families, and industry to create a connected workforce community. This recognition positions Lorain County JVS as a catalyst for workforce development and inclusive opportunities.”
• Deb Melda, Board Member, Lorain County JVS
   “From middle school exploration to pre-apprenticeship completion, our continuum of programs ensures students graduate workforce ready. This award reinforces our commitment to Lorain County’s future.”
• Jennifer Stein, Vice President, Innovation and Workforce Strategies, Kaptivate
   “This recognition showcases how innovation and workforce strategies must go hand-in-hand. At Kaptivate, we’ve seen how data-informed, student-centered approaches like LCJVS’s can transform local economies. LCJVS is modeling how schools can reimagine education-to-career pathways on a national stage.”
• Katherine Hite, Assistant Director, Ohio ACTE
   “This win reinforces the critical role of career-technical education in shaping Ohio’s workforce. Lorain County JVS exemplifies how CTE leaders can innovate with industry, remove barriers for students, and strengthen the talent pipeline that powers regional and statewide economic growth.”