PORTS Recruitment and Career Center Ribbon Cutting
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony sponsored by Pike County Chamber of Commerce. Photo courtesy of Pike County Chamber of Commerce
The PORTS Recruitment & Career Center held its grand opening on May 20, 2026, with over 150 people attending a ribbon-cutting event hosted by the Pike County Chamber of Commerce. The Center was established to serve the needs of both employers and job seekers in the region related to companies that are operating, expanding, and/or developing projects at or adjacent to the U.S. Department of Energy former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PORTS) in Pike County, Ohio. The Center is operated and primarily funded by Workforce Development Board Area 1 (WBA1) and will serve Pike, Scioto, Adams, Brown, Ross, and Jackson Counties. SODI is providing additional financial support for the facilities, equipment, and promotional materials. The Center is located at the OSU Endeavor Center, 1862 Shyville Road, Suite 215, Piketon, Ohio. Walk-In hours include Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday: 9 AM to 4 PM and Tuesday: 12 PM to 7 PM. Center staff can be reached at 740-935-8779 or by email at portsjobs@outlook.com. Please visit the website at https://portsjobs.com/ for more information.
Brad Bapst, Director – Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at OSU South Centers and Pike County Chamber President. Photo courtesy of Pike County Chamber of Commerce
Tony Montgomery, Pike County Commissioner. Photo courtesy of Pike County Chamber of Commerce
Crystal Keaton, Business Manager, Workforce Board Area 1. Photo courtesy of Pike County Chamber of Commerce
Andria Tipton, President, USW Local 689. Photo courtesy of Pike County Chamber of Commerce
The idea for the Center was borne out of a steering committee established to inform the execution of the Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative (SODI) Nuclear Hub Planning grant from the Ohio Department of Development. The steering committee, led by SODI, is comprised of employers, including Centrus Energy Corp., Southern Ohio Cleanup Company (SOCCo), Oklo Inc., Mission Conversion Services Alliance, and SB Energy, labor organizations, regional workforce and economic development entities, and educational representatives. The Center is a full-service workforce hub and provides career assessments, resume and interview preparation, job search assistance, employer recruitment events, apprenticeship coordination, and connections to occupational training providers. The Center also provides supportive services to help individuals address barriers such as transportation and childcare. Additional workshops are offered for job seekers and workers throughout the year, including career exploration and goal-setting workshops, digital literacy and online application training, resume writing and interview preparation, Department of Energy security clearance readiness, apprenticeship program information sessions, and career readiness and soft skills development. Satellite locations will be established by WBA1 in Jackson, Ross, and Scioto Counties this summer to provide services directly in those communities to ensure that job seekers and high school students across the region have access to these emerging employment opportunities.
John Holbrook, Business Manager, Tri-State Building and Construction Trades Council. Photo credit: Remington Road Group
Juli Stephens, Southeast Ohio Regional Representative, Office of U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno, Bryn Stepp, Regional Representative, Office of U.S. Senator Jon Husted, Herman Potter, SODI Board Chair, and Teresea Lewis, Regional Director for Congressman David Taylor. Photo courtesy of Pike County Chamber of Commerce
2026 Board Meeting Dates
Location: OSU Endeavor Center – 1862 Shyville Rd., Waverly Ohio 45690
