The TRI-C program is housed at the school's new Bioscience Workforce Center.
It's helping former auto workers transition into new fields, where employers are actually hiring, including the drug manufacturing industry and other health-related concerns, with more than half of those companies in the Greater Cleveland area.
So far, 60 former workers from Ford's Cleveland Engine Plant One are among those who have been re-trained.
United Auto Workers rep John Nahornyj says the program has a huge upside.
JOHN NAHORNYJ: "This is something that manufacturing can apply. The disciplines; like changing roles of the leader... Utilizing facilities like these to enchance technical skills; ....anyone can do this."
Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown and Congressman Tim Ryan announced new federal funding of $2.3 million, and touted proposed legislation to expand re-training for auto workers and other laid off manufacturing workers, throughout Ohio and beyond.
Senator Brown says the tough economy demands that workforce development officials and educators work together.
SENATOR SHERROD BROWN: "They understand that; whether it's high tech manufacturing, whether it's with two-year training or four-year training or one-year apprentice programs, that manufacturing is a major part of what's going to continue to drive the economy in Northeast Ohio."
The Senator says nearly half Ohio's estimated 70,000 open manufacturing jobs require more than a high school diploma - but don't need a college degree. Those are the people the TRI-C program targets.
