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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ohio’s biotech industry is backing federal legislation that would provide grants to colleges that collaborate with emerging and high-demand industries to help create jobs.

The “Strengthening Employment Clusters to Organize Regional Success” act would provide grants of up to $2.5 million to organizations with a program that grows jobs in a sector that has either a high demand for skilled workers or is considered an emerging industry, according to a summary of the bill (pdf).

Sponsors of the legislation, including Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, hope the funding would trickle down to community colleges that are developing degree programs for mid-level biotech careers.

It’s hard to call Ohio’s biotech sector emerging. The bioscience and health-care industries combined represent 15.7 percent of the state’s economic output, according to a report by BioOhio (pdf). Health care has also surpassed manufacturing to become the largest employer in Northeast Ohio.

In addition, it’s difficult to tell the impact of such a grant program. That would depend on the amount of money allocated for the program and the demand nationwide for the funds.

The bill changes the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to create the grant, which would be administered by the U.S. Department of Labor

But supporters of the legislation, including BioOhio Chief Executive Tony Dennis, said the state’s biotech sector could take advantage of such a program because it’s desperate for qualified applicants. There are now more than 1,100 bioscience companies and research institutions in the state, nearly quadruple the number in 2001. Many companies have trouble finding and cost-effectively training new employees, he said.

Dennis endorsed the legislation along with state education officials in a conference call with Brown from Washington, D.C.

Dennis also said the funds would compliment efforts already underway at community colleges. Cuyahoga Community College last year opened its Bioscience Workforce Training and Assessment Center, while Sinclair Community College in Dayton has an applied science degree in biotechnology.

Seven of the state’s 23 community colleges have biotech programs, according to BioOhio.