Business Innovation in Child Care Spotlight: Illuminate USA

Groundwork Ohio, in partnership with the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, has released a new resource, Business Innovation in Child Care: Case Studies Across Ohio, highlighting how businesses across the state are advancing child care solutions for their employees and communities. In the weeks ahead, we'll be spotlighting these efforts and sharing examples of innovative child care solutions from across Ohio.

This week, we're highlighting Illuminate USA, the largest single-site solar panel manufacturer in North America located in Licking County, Ohio.

Begun in 2023, today the advanced manufacturer has a workforce of over 1,600 operating around-the-clock. Production associates have 12-hour shifts (6 am - 6 pm) and work staggered shifts of two days on two days off, followed by three days on three days off. Associates typically work just 15 days per month and are provided 16 weeks of paid maternity leave and four weeks of paid paternity leave.

Overtime costs are built into the pay structure because every other week, associate shifts are planned to exceed 40 hours. In the company’s first two years, associates collectively had 150 births or adoptions.