JobsOhio, OLS launch $30 million biomanufacturing workforce initiative
Ohio is betting big on biotech. JobsOhio, the Ohio Life Sciences Association (OLS), and One Columbus are launching a new multimillion dollar biomanufacturing workforce initiative to train Ohioans for high-demand roles in pharmaceutical production and biotechnology.
Why it matters
Biomanufacturing investment in the U.S. has surged, with industry leaders pouring hundreds of billions into new projects since early 2025. Ohio aims to capture that momentum by investing up to $30 million over five years in a new central Ohio training center. The state-of-the-art facility will feature labs, simulated clean rooms, and classrooms designed to prepare workers for the next generation of life sciences jobs.
The details
JobsOhio will lead the investment with support from industry partners.
OLS will oversee operations and collaborate with Ohio colleges and technical schools to deliver curricula.
A “hub and spoke” model will extend training statewide through a network of community colleges and technical schools.
Programming will focus on operator and technician roles in pharmaceutical manufacturing, with future expansion into broader biotech and life sciences careers.
What leaders are saying
“Ohio is seizing the moment to lead in biomanufacturing,” said Ohio Lt. Governor Jim Tressel. “We’re building the highly skilled workforce this industry demands, so when companies look for a new place to grow, they will see Ohio as the place where opportunity and talent come together.”
JobsOhio CEO J.P. Nauseef added that the initiative is a direct response to industry needs. “The biomanufacturing industry has spoken, and Team Ohio is responding with a strategic effort to remain nimble, flexible and catalytic in the face of a historic opportunity to create jobs in our state,” he said.
OLS President Eddie Pauline called the project a long-term investment in Ohio’s role as a life sciences hub, “This bold investment serves as another example of how Ohio is transforming itself into a premier hub for the life sciences industry.”
The big picture
The initiative builds on JobsOhio’s broader talent programs — from relocation incentives for STEM workers to workforce grants and its Find Your Ohio platform. Together with OLS’s statewide career portal, the effort aims to give Ohio the talent edge as companies expand in biomanufacturing.
By anchoring a new training hub in central Ohio and connecting it across the state, leaders say Ohio is positioning itself to be a premier destination for biomanufacturing investment — and the skilled workforce that powers it.