Report on Manufacturing Career Growth and Sustainable Development in Cuyahoga County

Executive Summary

On July 28, officials from Cuyahoga County and the Manufacturing Advocacy & Growth Network (MAGNET) convened to announce the successful creation of 3,000 manufacturing careers over a three-year period. This achievement, realized through the Cuyahoga County Manufacturing Sector Partnership (MSP) established in 2020, marks a significant contribution to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the areas of economic growth, education, and inequality reduction.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The initiative directly promotes sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth by creating stable employment opportunities. The partnership successfully met its ambitious goal despite launching during the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.

• Job Creation: 3,000 new manufacturing careers were launched.
• Economic Impact: These positions, with average starting salaries of $38,000, generate over $2 million in incremental income and sales tax revenue for Cuyahoga County annually.
• Industry Resilience: The program reinforces the manufacturing sector, described by County Executive Chris Ronayne as the “lifeblood of the Cleveland economy,” ensuring its long-term strength.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities & SDG 1: No Poverty

A core objective of the MSP is to create inclusive career pathways for marginalized and vulnerable populations, thereby reducing economic and social inequalities.

• Targeted Demographics: The program focuses on creating opportunities for young people, individuals in low-paying jobs, and returning citizens.
• Inclusive Programs: MAGNET’s prison-to-employment pipeline and the ACCESS to Manufacturing Careers program are central to this effort.
• Poverty Alleviation: By placing individuals from high-poverty areas and returning citizens into jobs with sustainable wages, the initiative directly addresses poverty reduction. To date, 250 returning citizens have been placed into jobs through the ACCESS program.

SDG 4: Quality Education

The partnership has made substantial investments in workforce development, pre-apprenticeships, and youth engagement, fostering lifelong learning opportunities and building a skilled talent pipeline.

1. Youth Engagement: Over 8,300 students participated in MAGNET’s Youth Manufacturing Experience.
2. Skill Development: 228 students completed pre-apprenticeships, and over 110,000 work-based learning hours were completed.
3. Leadership Training: 125 professionals graduated from the CoachU leadership training program.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals & SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

The success of the initiative is a direct result of a robust multi-stakeholder partnership, which is fundamental to achieving sustainable development. This collaboration strengthens the regional industrial base and promotes innovation.

• Collaborative Framework: The MSP unites 12 area manufacturers, educational institutions (e.g., CMSD), workforce organizations (e.g., Towards Employment, Ohio Means Jobs), and government leaders.
• Public Investment: Cuyahoga County invested $5 million to fund workforce development programs through MAGNET.
• Private Sector Leadership: A Manufacturing Leadership Team composed of 12 companies guides strategy, designs programs, and ensures the system’s effectiveness.
• Future Commitment: All partners, including the Cuyahoga County Council, have reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the continued growth of local industries and advancing economic development.

Conclusion

The creation of 3,000 manufacturing careers represents more than a numerical milestone; it signifies a systemic improvement in building a more inclusive, resilient, and prosperous economy in Cuyahoga County. By aligning its efforts with key Sustainable Development Goals, the Manufacturing Sector Partnership has established a successful model for fostering decent work, reducing inequality, and ensuring the long-term vitality of the region’s industrial base through collaborative action.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 1: No Poverty

• The article highlights that the initiative creates career options for individuals “living in poverty.” By providing jobs with an average starting salary of $38,000, the program directly addresses poverty by offering stable income and economic opportunity.

SDG 4: Quality Education

• The initiative focuses heavily on workforce development and skills training. It mentions programs like “Early College Early Career,” “youth manufacturing experiences,” pre-apprenticeships, and leadership training (“CoachU”), all aimed at providing relevant vocational skills for employment, which is central to SDG 4.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The entire initiative is centered on creating “3,000 manufacturing careers,” promoting a strong regional economy, and providing “meaningful manufacturing careers” that offer “stability, opportunity, and purpose.” The generation of over “$2 million in incremental income and sales tax revenue” further underscores its connection to economic growth.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

• The article focuses on strengthening the regional manufacturing industry, which it calls the “backbone of our region’s economy.” The partnership aims to build a “stronger, more inclusive manufacturing economy” and adapt to evolving technologies, aligning with SDG 9’s goal of promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• The program is explicitly designed to be inclusive by targeting specific groups that often face barriers to employment. The article mentions creating opportunities for “younger generations, people working in low-paying jobs, and returning citizens in MAGNET’s prison-to-employment pipeline,” thereby promoting social and economic inclusion.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• The success of the initiative is attributed to the “Cuyahoga County Manufacturing Sector Partnership (MSP) and collaboration between 12 area manufacturers, educators, workforce organizations, and government leaders.” This multi-stakeholder partnership between public, private, and civil society entities is a perfect example of the collaboration promoted by SDG 17.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Target 1.2: Reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty.

• The article states that the program targets individuals “living in poverty” and provides them with jobs that have an average starting salary of $38,000, directly contributing to poverty reduction at a local level.

Target 4.4: Substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.

• The partnership’s focus on “workforce development,” “pre-apprenticeships,” “youth manufacturing experiences,” and “leadership training” directly aligns with this target by equipping individuals with the necessary skills for the manufacturing sector.

Target 8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.

• The creation of “3,000 new workers, careers launched in manufacturing” with an average starting salary of $38,000 directly addresses the goal of achieving productive employment and decent work. The focus on youth and “returning citizens” also aligns with the target’s inclusive approach.

Target 8.6: Substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training.

• The article mentions specific programs for young people, such as the “Early College Early Career” program, “youth manufacturing experiences” for over 8,300 students, and pre-apprenticeships for 228 students, all of which are designed to engage youth in education and career pathways.

Target 9.2: Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and, by 2030, significantly raise industry’s share of employment.

• The initiative’s core mission is to “strengthen our region’s pipeline” for manufacturing and “build a stronger, more inclusive manufacturing economy.” The creation of 3,000 jobs directly increases the manufacturing industry’s share of employment in Cuyahoga County.

Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

• The program explicitly targets and includes “returning citizens,” individuals “living in poverty,” and young people. The placement of 250 returning citizens into jobs is a direct action toward the economic inclusion of a marginalized group.

Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.

• The article describes the Manufacturing Sector Partnership as a collaboration between government (Cuyahoga County), a non-profit (MAGNET), private companies (“12 area manufacturers”), and workforce/education organizations. The success of the partnership in achieving its jobs goal demonstrates its effectiveness.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Job Creation and Decent Work Indicators

• Number of new careers launched: The article explicitly states the program’s primary achievement is the launch of “3,000 manufacturing careers.”
• Average starting wage: The article mentions that the jobs have an “average starting salaries of $38,000 a year,” which serves as an indicator of decent work.

Economic Growth Indicators

• Incremental tax revenue: The article quantifies the economic impact, stating the new jobs “generate over $2 million in incremental income and sales tax revenue in Cuyahoga County each year.”

Education and Training Indicators

• Number of students in youth programs: “more than 8,300 students participated in MAGNET’s Youth Manufacturing Experience.”
• Number of pre-apprenticeship completions: “228 students completed pre-apprenticeships.”
• Number of leadership training graduates: “More than 125 professionals graduated from CoachU leadership training.”
• Number of work-based learning hours: “more than 110,000 work-based learning hours were completed.”

Inclusion Indicators

• Number of returning citizens employed: The article specifies that “250 returning citizens were placed into jobs through the ACCESS to Manufacturing Careers program.”

Partnership Indicators

• Number and type of partners: The article identifies a multi-stakeholder partnership involving “12 area manufacturers, educators, workforce organizations, and government leaders,” which indicates the breadth of the collaboration.

4. SDGs, Targets and Indicators Table

Source: freshwatercleveland.com