Written by Marcie Kamb, January 13, 2025
Traci Lepicki, Associate Director at The Ohio State University’s Center on Education and Training for Employment (CETE), serves as a co-principal investigator on a transformative $4.8 million National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) funded initiative to address workforce needs tied to climate change. The project, “Climate-Ready Workforce Project,” focuses on equipping workers in the Lake Erie region with the skills needed to ensure water resource resilience.
Working in conjunction with The Ohio State University’s Center for Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences with principal investigator Dr. Lorrayne Miralha, this four-year program targets Ohio counties along the Lake Erie shoreline—Erie, Lorain, Lucas, and Cuyahoga—and emphasizes workforce diversity and digital fluency.
Lepicki leads efforts to survey employer partners, identify workforce needs, and guide curriculum development using the CETE’s Developing a Curriculum (DACUM) methodology. The project will train at least 100 individuals by 2028 for careers in water quality monitoring, environmental engineering, stormwater management, and data analytics.
Local Impact and Key Partnerships
The initiative includes partnerships with regional employers such as the Cleveland Water Department, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, and the Ohio Lake Erie Commission. Community organizations like The Junction Coalition in Toledo play a pivotal role in recruiting trainees from climate-vulnerable neighborhoods. This collaboration aims to enhance socioeconomic outcomes while addressing environmental challenges.
Other partners include:
- Government Agencies: Ohio EPA, National Weather Service
- Businesses: LimnoTech, Geosyntec Consultants, Mad Scientist Associates LLC, Xylem
- Workforce Organizations: Ohio TechNet, Cleveland Water Alliance, Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments, Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District, and Student Conservation Association
Fulfilling CETE’s Mission
This initiative fuels CETE’s mission as a translational research center dedicated to bridging the gap between research and practice. By aligning training programs with the evolving needs of industries and collaborating with partners across government agencies, businesses, and workforce organizations, CETE considers the varied complexities of the workforce and hones in on the skills necessary for emerging job markets.
“Our work at CETE is twofold. We are collaborating with employers to define job roles and functions, and we are supporting education and training providers to ensure learning opportunities—ranging from workshops and micro-credentials to undergraduate and graduate programs—are focused on the competencies needed for good jobs for a climate-ready workforce” explained Traci Lepicki.
Broadening Opportunities and Climate Solutions
With funding from NOAA, the Ohio project is one of nine nationwide aimed at strengthening climate resilience and local economies. The program addresses critical issues such as water quality, flooding, and climate adaptation while creating good-paying jobs.
Through strategic collaborations and cutting-edge training, the initiative is designed to empower Ohio’s coastal communities with the expertise needed to safeguard their water resources and build a sustainable future.