Raise the Bar Hancock County

Home
United States
Findlay, OH
Raise the Bar Hancock County

We connect stakeholders to advance workforce excellence. Our efforts support talent development along the cradle-to-career continuum.

Raise the Bar - Hancock County is a partnership of education, business, social services and community leaders focused on aligning and integrating the Hancock County, Ohio community learning system with economic growth and a high quality of life. In addition, help industry fill the job vacancies of today and in the near term. The mission statement for this organization is “to connect a trained labor force with Findlay Hancock County businesses to meet their workforce needs”.

06/17/2026

Day 2 of our 2026 Summer Educator Experience: Careers That Impact Our Community focused on Supporting Our Community.

Through visits with Fifth Third Bank,Hancock County Sheriff's Office, AR Marketing, and RCR Technology Group, educators explored the many ways professionals serve, protect, connect, and support our community every day.

From financial services and public safety to marketing and technology, participants gained valuable insights into the diverse career pathways that help communities thrive. These experiences highlighted the importance of collaboration, innovation, and service in meeting the needs of our region.

A huge thank you to our hosts for sharing their time, expertise, and passion with our educators. We appreciate your commitment to helping students discover meaningful career opportunities right here in our community!

06/16/2026

Day 1 of our 2026 Summer Educator Experience: Careers That Impact Our Community was a great way to kick things off!

Our theme for the day, Building Our Community, came to life as we visited Hancock Steel and RCM Architects, Inc. and heard from Weigand Construction and Gilbane Building.

Educators gained a firsthand look at the people, skills, and careers that shape the places where we live, work, and learn. From design and planning to fabrication and construction, today’s experiences highlighted the many ways these industries work together to build a stronger community.

Thank you to our partners for sharing your expertise and helping connect educators to the career opportunities available right here in our region. We’re looking forward to Day 2!

06/15/2026

We are honored to earn three (3!) 🤩 designations over the past three weeks:

1. The Ohio Manufacturers' Association Endorsed Partnership
2. Ohio Department of Development Industry Sector Partnership Grantee
3. Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Regional Education Partnership

All three designations recognize our dedicated work to preparing our workforce. We look forward to our ongoing collaborations with business, education, social services, and policymakers to advance workforce excellence.

06/11/2026

Ohio is making a significant investment in career-connected learning.

This week, Governor Mike DeWine , Lieutenant Governor Jim Tressel, and JobsOhio announced a $300 million Experiential Learning Initiative focused on expanding career awareness and helping students gain meaningful workplace experiences.

Experiential learning opportunities such as career exploration, job shadowing, workplace tours, internships, and industry engagement help students better understand the connection between education and future careers. They also provide employers with opportunities to build relationships with the next generation of talent.

At Raise the Bar Hancock County, we believe these experiences are critical to preparing students for success after graduation. It is encouraging to see continued investment in initiatives that strengthen partnerships between education and industry while creating more opportunities for students to explore careers and develop in-demand skills.

Read more in the article below:

https://www.jobsohio.com/newsroom/news-press/gov-dewine-lt-gov-tressel-jobsohio-announce-300m-experiential-learning-initiative-to-address-talent-gaps-and-bolster-career-awareness

06/10/2026

🎉 Join us in wishing our Executive Director, Tricia Valasek, a very Happy Birthday!

Thank you for your leadership, dedication, and all you do for Raise the Bar and our community. We hope your day is filled with joy, celebration, and everything that makes you smile!! 💚💙

06/05/2026

As the week comes to a close, we hope everyone takes some time to relax, recharge, and enjoy the weekend! ☀️

Whether you’re spending time with family, supporting local businesses, attending community events, or simply taking a well-deserved break, we hope it’s a great one.

Thank you to everyone who helps make Hancock County such a wonderful place to live, work, and grow. We’ll see you next week, ready to continue to Raise the Bar together!

06/02/2026

This morning’s Fresh Brewed Business event hosted by the Findlay - Hancock County Chamber of Commerce was another great reminder of how valuable it is to step away from our desks, connect with fellow professionals, and strengthen the relationships that help our community grow. Whether you’re sharing ideas, making new introductions, or simply catching up with familiar faces, these connections are what make Findlay such a special place to live and work.

A special congratulations to our Workforce Program Specialist, Ashley, for taking home the Fresh Brewed Showdown title today! 🏆

With a stack of Downtown Findlay gift cards in hand, there’s a good chance you’ll spot her supporting one of our local coffee shops in the near future. If you do, be sure to say hello!

Thank you to everyone who attended and continues to invest in the people, businesses, and partnerships that make our community stronger every day.

05/28/2026

77% of graduates say they left high school without feeling fully prepared for the real world. Let that sink in for a minute.

That means many young adults are entering college, careers, and life after graduation without the confidence or skills they feel they need to succeed.

Local businesses play a critical role in preparing the future workforce. Whether it’s hosting a tour, participating in a classroom discussion, offering a job shadow opportunity, or supporting career exploration events, your involvement makes a lasting impact on students.

If your business is interested in getting involved with Raise the Bar, we’d love to connect. Together, we can help students feel more prepared for life after graduation.

Read more from the latest YouScience report: https://www.youscience.com/resources/press/77-of-graduates-admit-we-arent-ready-for-the-real-world/

05/27/2026

Raise the Bar would like to extend a huge thank you to the incredible businesses and industry partners opening their doors for our 2026 Summer Educator Experience: Careers That Impact Our Community!

Throughout the program, educators will have the opportunity to tour local workplaces, hear directly from employers, and gain a deeper understanding of the skills, experiences, and career pathways available right here in Hancock County.

These partnerships help bridge the gap between education and industry by giving teachers real-world insights they can bring back to the classroom, ultimately helping students better prepare for their futures and strengthening our local workforce pipeline.

Thank you to the employers investing their time, knowledge, and resources into this experience and into the future of our students and community. Your partnership makes this program possible!

Hancock Steel
RCM Architects, Inc.
Weigand Construction
Gilbane Building
Fifth Third Bank
Hancock County Sheriff's Office
AR Marketing
RCR Technology Group
Primrose Retirement Communities Primrose Retirement Community of Findlay
Legacy Farmers Cooperative

05/26/2026

We are excited to announce the educators selected to participate in Raise the Bar's 2026 Summer Educator Experience! Please join us in congratulating these educators who are going above and beyond to connect classroom learning with real-world career experiences for students.

This year’s cohort represents schools and educational partners across Hancock County and will spend time connecting with local industries, exploring workforce trends, and bringing real-world career insights back to their classrooms.

Thank you for your commitment to connecting education and workforce development in Hancock County. We look forward to an impactful summer experience together!

Findlay City Schools
Vanlue Local School
Home of Arlington Local School
New Riegel Local Schools
Liberty-Benton Local Schools
Arcadia Local Schools
Cory-Rawson Local Schools
Van Buren Local Schools

Address

Findlay, OH
45840

Website

http://RaiseTheBarHancock.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Raise the Bar Hancock County posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Raise the Bar Hancock County:

Shortcuts

Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization in Findlay?