Clinton County Workforce Collaborative Launches Industry-Focused Discussions

The Clinton County Workforce Collaborative recently held a highly engaging and productive meeting focused on the healthcare industry, marking the launch of a new, intentional meeting structure designed to strengthen connections between educators, employers, and workforce partners.

The healthcare-focused discussion brought together local healthcare employers, educators, and service providers to share insights on workforce needs, student engagement, and realistic opportunities for collaboration. The meeting emphasized open dialogue, mutual understanding, and—most importantly—identifying actionable next steps to strengthen Clinton County’s workforce pipeline.

"The Workforce Collaborative's new, industry-specific format opened the door to deeper conversations about healthcare as a future pathway for Wilmington High School students," explained Tim Dettwiller, superintendent of Wilmington City Schools, who was in attendance during the meeting.  "Industry leaders and key support agencies shared their workforce needs and position requirements, and I left the meeting with several valuable contacts," stated Dettwiller.  "Since then, I've used those connections to leverage opportunities for our high school career readiness team to set up meetings and continue exploring the creation of a healthcare pathway at Wilmington High School."

Participants who did not work directly in healthcare were encouraged to listen, learn, and contribute insights from their own industries. This cross-sector perspective sparked meaningful discussion and allowed best practices and shared challenges to surface across different workforce environments.

This healthcare meeting is the first in a series of Workforce Collaborative meetings that will each focus on a specific industry or group of related industries, aligned with OhioMeansJobs industry clusters. The new structure is intended to provide consistency, encourage deeper conversation, and ensure each meeting results in clear takeaways and forward momentum.

The Clinton County Workforce Collaborative will continue these industry-focused discussions throughout the year, using the feedback and ideas generated to inform future programming, partnerships, and workforce initiatives that benefit both students and employers across the county.

The next industry-focused meeting is scheduled for March 11, 2026, with a focus on Manufacturing and Architecture & Construction. The meeting will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the Southern Ohio Educational Service Center, 3321 Airborne Road, Wilmington. 

The Clinton County Workforce Collaborative is an initiative of the Clinton County Port Authority, OhioMeansJobs-Clinton County, the Southern Ohio Educational Service Center, and the Wilmington-Clinton County Chamber of Commerce. The Workforce Collaborative operates as an extension of the Clinton County Business Advisory Council, under the umbrella of the Southern Ohio Educational Service Center's Business Advisory Council.

For more information about the Workforce Collaborative or upcoming meetings, please visit www.ccwcohio.org or contact Dessie Rogers at the Chamber of Commerce at info@wccchamber.com or (937) 382-2737.