JPMorgan Chase Commits $1 Million to Columbus State Community College to Prepare Students for Technology Jobs of the Future

October 2, 2019 (Columbus, OH) – JPMorgan Chase & Co. today announced a $1 million investment to provide students with necessary education and skills to secure well-paying, high-demand jobs in technology-related fields in the Central Ohio region. Partnering with Columbus State Community College, this investment will enhance the school’s capacity to prepare students with in-demand skills and drive economic mobility as part of the firm’s $350 million commitment to support skill building and job training worldwide. Since 2014, the firm has invested $2.5 million in career pathways programs at Columbus State.

By 2030, by some estimates, more than 30 percent of the U.S. labor market and 375 million workers globally will need to change jobs or upgrade their skills significantly to continue to advance within the workforce. With open admissions policies and relatively lower costs, community colleges play a vital role in creating pathways to opportunity in the United States.

“As one of the largest employers in Central Ohio, we recognize our role in creating and supporting workforce solutions that keep our region growing and thriving for everyone, particularly those most at risk of falling behind,” said Corrine Burger, Chief Control Manager for JPMorgan Chase’s Consumer and Community Bank and Asset and Wealth Management, and Columbus Location Leader. “Through this effort with Columbus State, we’re connecting the next generation with the tools and skills they need for the jobs of tomorrow and putting more people on the path to success.”

“There are so many great job opportunities available in Ohio, particularly within the technology space,” said Lt. Governor Jon Husted. “But in many cases, there’s a disconnect in ensuring the workforce has the necessary skills and education they need for these roles. The collaboration between JPMorgan Chase and Columbus State is an outstanding example of partners working together to help more Ohioans succeed in today’s technology-infused economy.”

The JPMorgan Chase philanthropic investment will help Columbus State continue to create courses and resources to align with the skills, credentials and work experiences that employers in the Central Ohio region demand. Specifically, the commitment will expand the college’s ability to serve as a workforce intermediary to train students and connect them with in-demand IT roles in the region, including data analytics, cybersecurity and software development. This work will support Columbus State’s engagement with area high schools to credential educators to teach College Credit Plus IT coursework through the state’s tuition-free college access program for secondary students.

“We are humbled by JPMorgan Chase’s ongoing investment in Columbus State,” said Columbus State President David Harrison. “We are committed to leveraging this funding to build ladders of opportunity into the high-demand IT field for area workers and students.”

This commitment builds on a $2.5 million New Skills at Work award in 2014 that focused on building and supporting infrastructure for the Central Ohio Compact, a college-convened coalition of K-12, higher education, business and civic sector partnering to increase postsecondary credential attainment within the region by 2025. The 2014 investment has created a more than $38 million return based on student savings through Columbus State’s administration of College Credit Plus and additional funding secured.

To address critical workforce issues around the world, JPMorgan Chase has invested more than $350 million to support skill building and job training worldwide. Since 2014, the firm’s New Skills at Work initiative has helped nearly 150,000 individuals in 37 countries, 30 states, 81 cities and the District of Columbia gain the skills they need to compete for good jobs.

About JPMorgan Chase & Co.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2.7 trillion and operations worldwide. The Firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing, and asset management. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, JPMorgan Chase & Co. serves millions of customers in the United States and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under its J.P. Morgan and Chase brands. Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. is available at www.jpmorganchase.com.

About Columbus State
Columbus State is one of the largest comprehensive colleges in Ohio, currently serving more than 46,000 students and contributing nearly $1 billion annually in regional economic impact. It is the only community college in the nation to earn the three key national distinctions of a Guided Pathways college, an Achieving the Dream Leader College and a Right Signals Initiative college, and in 2019 received the Leah Meyer Austin award, the highest honor a college in Achieving the Dream’s network can earn.

Media Contact
JPMorgan Chase
Carlene Lule, carlene.c.lule@chase.com, 614.213.6545

Columbus State
Brent Wilder, bwilder5@cscc.edu, 614.287.5789