Latest SOD Center News

The Sustainable Opportunity Development Center, Inc (SOD Center) and the City of Salem LAUNCH INNOVATIVE NEW WEBSITE SERVICE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS

SOD Center website provides free market research and business intelligence to help small businesses

Salem, OH, - The Sustainable Opportunity Development Center, Inc (SOD Center) is launching SizeUp Salem on its website today, making powerful market research and business intelligence available to local businesses to help them succeed.

Local businesses can now access industry-specific and hyperlocal information to help them grow and make smarter decisions using Big Data analysis. The research is individually customized for each company. By using the website service local businesses are able to:

1. Rank their business performance compared to industry competitors 
2. Discover potential customers, suppliers, and better understand their competitive landscape 
3. Optimize advertising to target ideal customer segments 

SizeUp helps to level the competitive business playing field by providing small businesses with similar market research that typically only large corporations can afford to access by contracting multinational management consulting companies or hiring internal research analysts. “In today’s information economy, if you don’t have access to information your business is at a significant disadvantage. With the launch of SizeUp on the SOD Center website, we are empowering our small businesses in Salem to be able to make more data-driven decisions to better operate, succeed, and grow,” said Mayor John Berlin, City of Salem.

In the USA, over 99% of all companies are small businesses and small businesses create the majority of all net new private sector jobs (Source: US Small Business Administration and US Bureau of Labor Statistics). From 1993 to 2015 small businesses created 425% more net new jobs than large companies (Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics). In addition, locally-owned businesses create a larger economic impact on the local economy because more money spent with them is re-spent locally. The SOD Center and the City of Salem are committed to helping our local businesses succeed. They are the foundation of our local economy, employ our residents, create new jobs, and make our community a more prosperous place. Providing SizeUp business assistance service on our website is another way in which we are partnering with our local businesses for their success,” said Julie Needs, SOD Center Executive Director. 

SizeUp uses big data, cloud computing, and computer algorithms to deliver custom analysis for local businesses. The data comes from hundreds of public and proprietary data sources covering firmographic, demographic, geographic, labor, wage, cost, consumer spending, transportation, and more.

This new service provided by the SOD Center and City of Salem is completely free to local businesses and available anytime through the SOD Center  website at https://sodcenter.com.

The SOD Center enhances economic growth and development by capitalizing on opportunities and connecting resources that make Salem the community of choice, for business, industry and residents.

The Sustainable Opportunity Development Center, Inc. (The SOD Center)
440 Pennsylvania Ave, Salem, OH.
Contact info:
Name: Julie L Needs, Executive Director
Eva Slagle, Training Center and Downtown Development Coordinator
Phone: 330-337-7669

About SizeUp, Inc. 

SizeUp is a Fintech (Financial Technology) Internet service company dedicated to providing powerful business intelligence. SizeUp helps its clients better serve their small business customers by providing high-quality market research and business insights. SizeUp enables small businesses to make better decisions through big data. As a result of SizeUp’s disruptive model of small business intelligence it has established itself as a leading Fintech company winning awards, being profiled in the media, and being invited to present at conferences around the world. SizeUp won the 1st Place award from the US Department of Commerce for a business app that helps American businesses be more competitive, improve their success, foster prosperity, and create more jobs.

The Port Authority has partnered with the SOD Center and the Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition to bring this Ohio to Work event to the area with a goal of connecting job seekers with employers in Mahoning Valley. Executive director Penny Traina said 17 different employers will be available.

Manufacturing, healthcare and technology companies are invited to participate in this hiring event to connect Columbiana County employers and job-seekers.
Regional training and workforce development organizations will be participating.

Wednesday, April 13, 2022, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Sustainable Opportunity Development (SOD) Center
440 Pennsylvania Avenue, Salem, OH 44460

REGISTER >

Questions? Interested in becoming an OTW MV committed employer for additional workforce benefits? Contact Julie Michael Smith, MVMC, julie@mahoningvalleymfg.com for details.

The SOD Training Center is among five programs across Ohio receiving a workforce development grant from the Association of Ohio Commodores Foundation Fund.

The Association awarded the Sustainable Opportunity Development Center, Inc., aka SOD Center, Inc., $20,000.00 to support the continuation of the SOD Training Center’s workforce development training model that has trained nearly 1200 local employees. Robert Sebo, a member of the Commodores, nominated the SOD Training Center for this grant award.

Since launching in November of 2018, The SOD Training Center has facilitated 75 courses and workshops supporting workforce development in the Salem region. Julie Needs, Executive Director of the SOD Center, commented that “The pandemic had a significant impact on our ability to provide training by shuttering our center for nearly 12 months. This generous award by the Ohio Commodores Foundation will support the revival of the SOD Training Centers efforts to meet the needs of local and regional employers by addressing important issues of workforce development such as, skills gap, employee retention, skills growth, company retention & growth, economic development, and a workforce pipeline for current and future industry in the region.”

This project will assist in developing and up-skilling a ready and able workforce to succeed and excel in careers with local and regional employers. Local and regional employers site workforce as a top challenge to growing their businesses. Providing dedicated specialized training that addresses the employers’ needs as well as the skills employees need to obtain and follow a career pathway is necessary for overall economic growth in the region. Needs stated “We are honored and grateful to be one of the 5 organizations selected by the Ohio Commodores Foundation to support workforce development in the State of Ohio.

The Association of Ohio Commodores awarded grants totaling $80,000 as the Association celebrated its 55th anniversary with this inaugural grant round during its 2021 Winter Meeting. Grants support training, professional development, and other community activities that create and develop a strong Ohio workforce.

The Association of Ohio Commodores Foundation Fund was established in partnership with the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO), a regional community foundation
serving the 32 counties of Appalachian Ohio. FAO creates opportunities for Appalachian Ohio’s citizens and communities by inspiring and supporting philanthropy. For more information about FAO, visit www.AppalachianOhio.org. To learn more about the Association of Ohio Commodores Foundation Fund, visit www.AppalachianOhio.org/Commodores.

For more information regarding the SOD Training Center, visit sodcenter.com.

About SOD Center, Inc

The SOD Center is a 501 (c)(3) organization facilitating growth to advance economic vitality and improve
the quality of life for Salem residents.

Salem's SOD Center Expands Again With New Computer Lab

In an effort to accommodate even more of Salem’s workforce, The SOD Center has added a new computer lab that boasts 15 new laptops. New computer aided courses and classes are being scheduled.

Whether it’s connecting businesses to necessary resources, or training Salem’s workforce for certification, The SOD Center has been invaluable to Salem’s economic development, especially during the pandemic. However, this influence can now reach even more with their brand new, state-of-the-art, computer lab. Originally built into the expansion grant from earlier this year, the new computer lab was prompted by Salem’s employers’ need for transportable technology. SOD’s executive director, Julie Needs, stated, “If a business has 10 employees to train on Office 365 by a certain deadline but only has 2 laptops, they can now schedule time with us here at the center. And those 10 employees can be certified at the same time, instead of possibly having to wait until the next quarter.” This new lab saves existing businesses time, which, in turn, saves them money. However, in addition to the obvious savings, the new computer lab now enables the SOD Center to service almost every aspect of Salem’s workforce.

College can be intimidating on many levels, which could keep individuals from advancing their careers. This new computer lab addresses that concern by allowing SOD to reach those they may not have before. “Most of our training targeted the incumbent worker,” Needs stated. “But with the new computer lab, we can now offer our many training services to both the unemployed and underemployed.” Moreover, with this expansion, The SOD Center took a crucial step towards bridging the gap between the unemployed and the employed.

The SOD Training Center was established in 2018 as a training resource for area businesses. They are currently taking reservations for their next Microsoft Excel class, which will be held in the new computer lab on October 19, 2021, from 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM. To learn more about The SOD Center’s training and classes, you can visit https://sodcenter.com or contact Training Coordinator, Eva Slagle at 330-337-7669.

Michael Loges, President of the Ohio Economic Development Association, announced that Julie Needs, Executive Director of the Sustainable Opportunity Development Center in Salem, has been awarded the Ohio Certified Economic Developer (OhioCED) credential.

“The OhioCED professional credential attests the depth and breadth of an economic development professional’s knowledge and their ability to apply that knowledge to the benefit of their community or organization,” Loges said. “Julie has achieved a level of professional skill and performance that places them among the top economic developers in Ohio.”

Loges also congratulated the Board of Directors for SODC for recognizing economic development is critical to their community and advancing the skills of their professional staff.

The Ohio Economic Development Association is the professional association for economic developers in Ohio. The certification program courses are offered through the Ohio Economic Development Institute, OEDA’s flagship professional development program. Earning the Ohio Certified Economic Developer is a rigorous, multi-year process. To be certified, an economic developer must complete more than 70 hours of core coursework, 24 hours of elective coursework, and complete a Capstone project. The Ohio Economic Development Institute program was created in partnership with JobsOhio, the state’s economic development organization, and Ohio University Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service in 2016.

PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Jennifer Price
Executive Director
Ohio Economic Development Association (OEDA)
614.506.1500 jprice@ohioeda.com

Safe Routes to School

What is it?

Safe Routes to School is a funding program through the Department of Transportation that helps make walking and biking to school safer for children in grades K through 8.

What is available to the City of Salem?

• Infrastructure (bike lanes, sidewalks, pavement markings, intersection improvements, and more)
  • Up to $400,000 in grant funding.
• Non-Infrastructure (safety education programs, lesson plans, helmet/safety gear giveaways, etc.)
  • Up to $20,000 in grant funding.

Why?

Opportunity to:

• Increase pedestrian & road safety near school properties for all
• Increase community involvement in schools and neighborhoods

What can I do to help?

Please take a few minutes to fill out a parent survey! Your input will help us understand your needs and concerns to secure this important funding for the community.

https://odot.formstack.com/forms/srts_caregiver_survey

The Sustainable Opportunity Development Center, Inc. (The SOD Center) announces the expansion of The SOD Training Center.

The SOD Training Center offers a location in Salem, Ohio to help meet the training needs of area businesses. The expansion of services includes an Industrial Maintenance Readiness Program that will provide targeted entry level training in the Industrial Maintenance field. The training will include career readiness and technical training and placement with an employer. At the conclusion participants will acquire NIMS Credentials, OSHA 10- hour cards and entry level skills in Industrial Maintenance.

The SOD Center is a private not-for-profit 501c(3) economic development organization serving the City of Salem and surrounding areas. The SOD Center mission is facilitating growth to advance economic vitality and improve the quality of life for Salem residents.

Julie Needs, Executive Director of The SOD Center, commented that “We are very excited for the opportunity and partnerships this expansion brings to local manufacturing with targeted skilled training for entry level positions to not only Salem, but also Columbiana county that will assist in workforce growth and development for our local businesses.”

The SOD Center will be partnering with the Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition on this project. MVMC will assist with program design and coordination.

“Collaboration among area workforce development agencies is often key to an efficiently run and successful program, and we believe the WorkAdvance model we bring to the partnership will help address the increasing demand for industrial maintenance workers in the region,” said Jessica Borza, MVMC executive director.

MVMC was formed in September 2011 by a group of small- and medium-sized, locally-owned manufacturers in Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana Counties in Ohio solely for the purpose of “creating educational pathways to meet the needs of member companies for a skilled workforce.” The group is a grassroots effort led by industry with representation from public institutions of higher education, career and technical centers, county boards of education and public workforce systems.

With this expansion The SOD Training Center will also be adding a computer lab for computer-based learning courses or for use by those who may not have access to technology. The computer lab will aid the SOD Center in reaching and assisting under-represented populations as well as employers who may not have transportable technology for employees to attend computer courses.

The SOD Training Center will continue to offer courses and workshops to facilitate workforce development. With a focus on safety training, leadership development, workplace improvement, skills advancement and soft skills, Training Coordinator, Eva Slagle stated, “The SOD Training Center willcontinue to function as a facilitator, bringing professional trainers to our local community to offer cooperative training opportunities.”

Employers and participants interested in the Industrial Maintenance Readiness Program or the Computer Lab, please call the SOD Center at 330-337-7669.

The SOD Center looks forward to collaborating with MVMC, local businesses, workforce, and educators to expand workforce development for Salem and surrounding areas.

The SOD Training Center is located at 440 Pennsylvania Ave, Salem, OH within The SOD Center offices.

Salem, Ohio’s resilience proves a welcome commodity as Circle K opens their third store. The worldwide chain retailer’s slogan boasts, “From humble beginnings to world-class business;” therefore, Circle K and Salem are a perfect match. With its location near the bustling intersection of State Street and 14, the gas station\convenience store combo is primed for optimal traffic and commerce, and Salem’s thriving economy is ready to respond. Even in this modern era, which has been marred by uncertainty, Circle K boasts a whopping 122 available jobs company-wide, and a corporate-wide employee headcount of over 130,000. When combined with their 16,000 stores that operate in over 25 countries, Circle K’s new store is sure to add more job availability. Salem, Ohio continues to attract Companies looking to expand, and Circle K’s third location, combined with the recent addition of Chipotle, proves that Salem, Ohio’s business appeal shows no signs of slowing down.

CHIPOTLE—MADE JUST FOR YOU! A Chipotle Restaurant is the newest addition to Salem, Ohio’s growing business community. Located at 2203 E. State St. and open 7 days per week from 10:45 AM - 10:00 PM, they are now hiring all positions. According to Chipotle’s website,  they aim to “provide exceptional training and a clear career path – over 80% of our managers got promoted from Crew.” The website boasts an employee first mentality, with employee benefits that include (but are not limited to): tuition assistance; free food; medical, dental, and vision insurance; paid breaks; paid time off; holiday closures; and customized college degree programs.

In addition to the perks offered to potential employees, the global heavyweight maintained a rating on the #Fortune500 list of the World’s Most Admired Companies with a rating of #4 (which is actually up two from last year). With a top score of 8 in Global Competitiveness, and an overall score of 6.29, Chipotle shows no sign of slowing down. This bodes well for Salem because in this modern time of uncertainty, in which many communities are unfortunately struggling, Salem, Ohio continues to defy odds—just like with Chipotle’s continued success despite its own recent challenges.

Learn more about Chipotle in Salem, Ohio at ... https://jobs.chipotle.com/job/salem/new-restaurant-opening-in-salem-now-hiring-3565/282/17588811