EDUCATION & TALENT
We’re a maker community. We invent, we build and we turn ideas into reality. Our students do
amazing things, and with local post-graduate colleges, universities and career centers, they’re
finding jobs right here! When it comes to quality of life, education and cutting-edge health care, the
Greater Lima Region has it all! Come and discover for yourself our Real American Heart!
Enhancing education is a priority of Lima/Allen County. Our community has outstanding educational
programs for all career paths, including skilled trades. We offer skill trades training programs at both
the vocational level and with full apprentice programs.
Apollo
For over 45 years, Apollo Career Center has been training high school and adult students in
careers that have high employment opportunities in this region. Responsive to area business
and industry needs, Apollo customizes and upgrades skills training in its continuing
commitment to provide a skilled workforce.
High school students from 11 area high schools have the opportunity to choose from over 20
career-training programs that prepare students for life after graduation. Through
strong long-standing partnerships with business and industry, high school students are offered
internships, apprenticeships and employment opportunities that benefit the community,
the economy and the future of Apollo students.
Apollo Career Center Adult Education, an Ohio Technical Center, is one of the leading training
facilities in the region, providing full-time and short-term training programs that upgrade, enhance and
provide life-changing career choices for adult students. Adult Education has made a strong commitment to
this region with additional business and industry support to offer a wide range of services including
customized training and apprenticeships.
In addition to strong training programs, Apollo Adult Education serves over 150 fire departments and
EMS squads in 14 counties through the public safety division. The burn room is the only facility of its
kind in this region.
Apollo Career Center believes that a highly skilled workforce is an integral part of community success
and will continue to be responsive and strive to meet the needs of its shareholders.
www.apollocareercenter.com
Lima Building Trades
The Lima Building & Construction Trades Council is composed of 16 trade unions made up of 2,500 highly
skilled craftsmen from all over northwest Ohio. They have a proven track record of completing projects
on time, on budget and with exceptional quality. Their work generates thousands of local jobs and
millions of dollars in revenue as we work to build the northwest Ohio community. They also promote
apprenticeships as a pathway to high-paying, satisfying careers with exceptional opportunities for
advancement.
www.limabuildingtrades.com
Heir Force Community School
Heir Force Community School is committed to providing a safe learning environment where staff,
students, parents, and community accept the responsibility of preparing students for academic success
and to face the challenges of the future. Heir Force Community School’s environment of trust and
mutual respect for all people reflects our belief that all students can learn. With rigorous and varied
academic standards, we will work together to prepare our students to take a role in society as
productive citizens and help develop their commitment to learning.
Heir Force Community School services approximately 300 students from a diverse population from the city
of Lima and surrounding areas. The school culture and climate embody a collaborative approach through
its rigor within the curriculum towards closing the achievement gap. Our mission ultimately is to meet
all state academic indicators as outlined by the Ohio Department of Education. Our approach to achieving
this goal is centered on increasing the scores in ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies as outlined
with the American Institute for Research (AIR) Achievement test. Our teachers and staff support this
mission by assessing student readiness, organizing instruction, and establishing individualized learning
strategies for the purposes of increasing cognitive development.
The students at Heir Force Community School are living proof that through rigorous coursework, high
expectations, and immersion within a positive learning environment that promotes having commitment,
displaying affection, exhibiting respect, and showing excitement (CARE), all students can achieve
at a maximum level.
IBEW Local 32
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers represents approximately 750,000 members who work
in a wide variety of fields, including utilities, construction, telecommunications, broadcasting,
manufacturing, railroads and government. The IBEW has members in both the United States and Canada and
stands out among the American unions in the AFL-CIO because it is among the largest and has members in
so many skilled occupations.
IBEW Local 32 has nearly 300 members in Allen, Auglaize, Hardin, Logan, Mercer, Shelby, Van Wert and
Wyandot counties in west central Ohio. IBEW Local 32 was established in 1898 and is a leader in safety,
technology and training. In a quest to provide a safe work environment, the organization developed paid
continuing education program to ensure that you can have the most current and advanced training
available.
As union members, IBEW bargains collectively with employers over wages, benefits and rights. Most have
very limited bargaining power as one person, but as a group, members are strong. And with a good
negotiated contract, IBEW has legal protections they would not have otherwise.
What does IBEW do?
❚ Electrical power and lighting systems.
❚ Power distribution and metering systems.
❚ Motor control and programmable logic controllers.
❚ Building automation systems.
❚ Energy management systems.
❚ Manufacturing and packaging systems.
❚ Uninterruptible power supply systems.
❚ Fire alarm systems.
❚ Voice-data-video installations.
https://ibew32.com/
Plumbers & Pipefitters – UA Local 776
UA Local 776 has a proud tradition of providing highly skilled and trained plumbers, pipefitters,
sprinklerfitters, steamfitters and service technicians to West Central Ohio businesses and industries
since 1937. The organization offers a five-year apprenticeship training program and continuing education
to ensure members stay trained at the top of their field. In addition, all members receive stringent
safety training and are regularly drug tested, so UA Local 776 can provide the safest, highly-skilled
workers to its partners, ensuring that they can complete their projects on time, within budget and with
exceptional quality. www.ualocal776.com
Ohio State Beauty Academy
The academy’s mission is to provide an equal opportunity to all people desiring a career in
cosmetology, to give each student the best training possible, teaching them specific skills and related
subjects necessary for them to be successfully employed in the cosmetology industry. www.ohiostatebeauty.com
Ohio Northern University
Ohio Northern University is an independent, comprehensive university that offers distinctive,
nationally recognized programs of study. Its integrated liberal and professional education combines
practice with theory, and is complemented by excellent co-curricular and high-impact experiential
offerings. More than 3,000 students are enrolled in its 40 plus undergraduate and graduate programs in
five colleges: Arts & Sciences, Business, Engineering, Pharmacy and Law.
In 2024, ONU graduates enjoyed a 96% placement rate in full-time jobs and graduate school admissions.
Its rich history of academic excellence is always evolving to meet society’s
ever-changing needs.
ONU continues to be ranked among the best universities in the nation for offering an exceptional
education with an outstanding return on investment. ONU offers the best value of any university
in Ohio and the Midwest, according to 2025 rankings by the Wall Street
Journal and U.S. News and World Report.
The university has been developing and preparing good students for great careers at its safe, vibrant,
rural campus in Ada, Ohio, since 1871.
Rhodes State College
Called upon to develop highly trained, innovative, career-ready individuals for every industry and
organization, Rhodes State College has become the right place for students who want to make an impact
right now.
For over 50 years, Rhodes State has changed lives, built futures and improved communities through
lifelong learning. Rhodes State takes pride in training individuals who become essential contributors to
manufacturing, business, healthcare and their communities. With over 100 programs, majors and
certificates, students come to Rhodes State with promising futures and complete their training with new
jobs, new credentials or their sights set on seamlessly transitioning to a bachelor’s degree
program.
Rhodes State is creating a quality, affordable pathway for students to accomplish their goals, whether
they begin at Rhodes State in high school, through the College Credit Plus program or come seeking a new
path in life, a new hobby or an upgrade to their job skills. Through an extensive partnership with
business, manufacturers, healthcare providers and organizations in its service area, students have the
opportunity to connect, network and enter new roles upon completion of their courses.
Rhodes State is a vital asset to the region for growth and innovation as we strive to meet the needs of
employers with the credentialed workers they need to succeed and grow. We are creating new programs,
purchasing advanced laboratory equipment and collaborating with regional partners to garner fresh ideas
and insight. The Borra Center for Health Sciences in Downtown Lima is just one example of how Rhodes
State created an interdisciplinary learning environment, equipped with the latest technology to serve
students and the community as a whole.
Students of every variety can experience the excellence of Rhodes State online, on campus or through a
network of educational partners. Rhodes State has staff and faculty to support special needs, help to
engage in student activities, or give counseling and career advice. In addition, its alumni family of
over 20,000 is a growing force in the region. They are available as mentors to students and
bridge-builders for the College into the community. www.rhodesstate.edu
University of Northwestern Ohio
The University of Northwestern Ohio has been pursuing its Drive for Excellence for more than 100 years.
UNOH focuses on practical education, helping students develop the most in-demand skills sought by
businesses and industries on the local and national levels. New degree programs in 2025 include
Construction Equipment Technology and the expansion of the Logistics and Supply Chain major.
UNOH is a not-for-profit university rooted in entrepreneurism authorized by the Ohio Department of
Higher Education and accredited by The Higher Learning Commission. The university has five colleges: the
College of Applied Technologies, the College of Business, the College of Occupational Professions,
the College of Health Professions and the Graduate College. At UNOH, there is no out-of-state
tuition, and the university is recognized as one of the most affordable private universities in Ohio,
which is why students from around the country and the world choose UNOH as their home away
from home during their college years. UNOH has taught students from all 50 states and 76 countries and
currently has nearly 3,000 students enrolled this academic year.
The university is known worldwide as a leader in educating students in the automotive, diesel, and high
performance industries and also offers nearly 50 degree programs in business, health care, marketing,
information technology, robotics and automation, logistics and supply chain management, motorsports
marketing, construction equipment technology, and many other fields of study. The university also
supports 14 NAIA collegiate athletic teams that compete in the Wolverine Hoosier Athletic
Conference.
A point of pride for UNOH is the ability to offer students real-world internships and work experiences
related to their chosen field of study. Whether it’s interning at the Super Bowl or helping out a
world-class race team in Formula Drift, Monster Jam, NASCAR, IndyCar or at the grassroots dirt tracks
throughout the season, UNOH students make connections to land themselves jobs even before they graduate!
Students at the University of Northwestern Ohio develop lifelong friendships, embrace a culture of
learning and adapt to new techniques and technologies. Every year, the University strives to continue to
grow, plan, and progress to meet the needs of its students, the community and the industries it serves.
For more information about UNOH, visit www.unoh.edu.
Bluffton University
Since 1899, Bluffton University’s faculty and staff have dedicated themselves to helping students
find their talents, their passions and, ultimately, their way.
Bluffton offers more than 90 majors, minors and interdisciplinary programs for undergraduate students.
Graduate programs designed for working adults include business administration, education, social work,
and nutrition and dietetics.
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a Bluffton University degree is respected across the
country. Ranked in the top tier of Midwest Colleges for more than 20 years in U.S. News and World
Report’s “Best Colleges” guidebook, Bluffton is also recognized as a Best Value School
and a Top Performer in Social Mobility.
www.bluffton.edu
The Ohio State University
At The Ohio State University at Lima, students enjoy the opportunities and high-caliber education of a
Big Ten university close to home in the learning environment that suits them best. The affordable
tuition and award-winning teaching and research faculty are available to all Ohio residents who have
graduated from an accredited Ohio high school.
Ohio State Lima students have their choice of 13 bachelor’s degree programs and access to more
than 200 Ohio State majors and minors, including emerging and high-demand career fields. They engage
with faculty and peers from diverse backgrounds who share their passions, turning their education into a
dynamic and immersive experience.
http://Lima.OSU.edu
