Education at Work, Inc. (EAW) recently received a $250,000 loan from JobsOhio that will help facilitate EAW’s mission to positively impact the greater Cincinnati area by creating job opportunities, retaining a talented workforce, and helping college students earn their degrees with less debt. EAW Founder and CEO Dave Dougherty said the loan would help create 1,500 part-time positions over the next five years for college students. “Our great partnership with community organizations like JobsOhio emphasizes the significance of investing in local startup businesses and student talent in the community,” said Dougherty. “The JobsOhio loan given to Education at Work is a very substantial amount that will go a long way in moving our mission forward.” John Minor, JobsOhio’s President and Chief Investment Officer, said sustaining and building upon Ohio’s strong workforce helps spur investment in the state. “We are pleased that our support will help Education at Work strengthen an already talented workforce here in Southwest Ohio, and that is essential to attracting and retaining jobs,” said Minor. “We believe this assistance makes Ohio more competitive and provides a boost to higher education in the region by expanding opportunity for students.” EAW is a Cincinnati-based nonprofit organization that offers employment to local college students with flexible hours, on-site training and career engagement guidance. Additionally, Education at Work’s student-employees are eligible to receive up to $6,000 annually in tuition assistance if the student maintains top grades while working at EAW. The organization emphasizes the importance of affordable higher education, professional development, and the role that obtaining a degree plays in improving a student’s future opportunities. In addition to the financial support, students learn first-hand the responsibilities associated with gainful employment, such as productivity, commitment, teamwork and accountability. JobsOhio determined the loan will advance economic development, education benefits, and the creation and retention of jobs within the state of Ohio. Education at Work is dedicated to helping students who might not otherwise be able to afford the costs of higher education. EAW hires college students as part-time customer service agents to serve the customers of their clients, such as Macy’s and Cincinnati Bell. The students provide these outsourced services as employees of EAW. In addition to competitive hourly wages, EAW’s student-employees are also eligible for compensation in the form of tuition assistance, up to $6,000 per year. This year, EAW has paid out over $60,000 in tuition assistance to its students. About Education at Work Education at Work is a contact center provider solving business challenges with a twist. Energetic, tech-savvy students are at the core of our clients’ successes. Our mission as a non-profit organization is to invest in helping our students develop important career skills while also improving our clients’ business results. Fulfilling our mission depends on the success of our clients. By helping them achieve their goals, we provide more opportunities and experiences for our student-employees. Students can graduate virtually debt-free through EAW with fundamental skills that better prepares them for success in the current job market. For more information, please visit www.education-at-work.org, or subscribe to the EAW blog: http://blog.education-at-work.org. Source: Education News