Restored Citizens, Veterans Benefitting from Central Ohio's TAPP Project

COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Restored citizens preparing for re-entrance into society after incarceration often face a very challenging time. While focusing on becoming a law-abiding citizen, they often find society is not always so forgiving. Locating gainful employment—a job that offers them respectable pay and benefits and the opportunity for self-support—is often just out of their reach even when they have marketable skills. A program to open a door for them—vouch for their abilities and commitment to a new chapter in their lives—would make all the difference.

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Available jobs are certainly out there. Today's manufacturing industry faces an acute shortage of skilled, entry-level employees and these restored citizens could help to ease that problem. Recognizing the needs of both manufacturers and restored citizens, the Training, Assessment and Placement Project (TAPP) was developed to provide a solution by matching restored citizens with those manufacturers who want to give them the opportunity to begin a new chapter in their lives.

TAPP is the brainchild of Vickie Miller, a former Vocational Educator with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections (ODRC) and owner of VMConsulting. Miller gained the assistance of ODRC to provide access to restored citizens for job placement. The final piece—a partnership with OH!Manufacturing, an affiliate of the Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership—established the avenue to locate both immediately available manufacturing positions as well as employers who want to help these individuals embark on a fresh start.

In the short eight months since its inception in August 2015, TAPP has seen success with its placement of six restored citizens—four of whom are veterans—into positions with Central Ohio manufacturers. Their employers report that they are impressed with their level of work ethic and desire to be positive role models and employees. One of those placed has already been selected to take on a newly created position within the company. His current employer, on a recent survey, gave the TAPP project a 100% evaluation score.

"The TAPP program has provided us with a pipeline of vetted candidates that are motivated, hardworking, and responsible," said Brandon Moskal, HR Generalist at Engineered Profiles LLC.

TAPP has recently expanded its assistance to include all military veterans, through a partnership with the Military Veterans Resource Center. According to Miller, "TAPP continues to grow with the increased needs of entry level and skilled employees."

OH!Manufacturing is an affiliate of the Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) and a non-profit organization. Drawing on the deep industry and functional expertise of our consultants and partners, we help manufacturers in the 11-county Central Ohio area improve how they develop, commercialize, manufacture and distribute innovative products. We connect manufacturers with cost-effective resources and provide them with timely information on new technologies, manufacturing methods, operational practices and more.

Contact:  Vickie Miller
TAPP Program Manager
(740) 360-1633

SOURCE OH!Manufacturing