OHIO (WLIO) - The governor and lieutenant governor announced over $67 million in grants to expand career tech education across the state.
Included in the 56 schools receiving funding is the Bath Local School District, which will be receiving over $2 million. Grant monies will be used to purchase new equipment to train and certify students in fields like robotics, healthcare, and law enforcement. According to the state, the expansion and updates that will be made possible for awarded schools will make career tech opportunities available to over ten thousand more Ohio students.
"One of the things that Lt. Governor Husted and I have seen as we've traveled around the state is there's a great demand for career tech. But in some cases, the schools don't have the ability to build out, they don't have the ability to take all the young people that want to get either in the program or actually in the school itself," stated Governor Mike DeWine, R-OH.
"Employers need up-to-date skills. The technology is changing the nature of work every day, and so that means we need to change the nature of education and how we prepare students. And with these investments, we're going to make sure that thousands and thousands of more students have those updated skills so that they can move from school into work," said Lt. Governor Jon Husted, R-OH.
The other schools in our region receiving funding are Findlay City Schools with $350,000, Ohio Hi-point Career Center with over $590,000, and Wayne Trace Local Schools with over $2.4 million.
March 4, 2024 Press Release from the Office of Governor Mike DeWine: (READING, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted today announced the recipients of the Career Technical Education Equipment Grant Program which will expand career technical education access to an additional 10,345 students across the state. The funding helps schools purchase up-to-date equipment so they can better prepare students to be career-ready upon graduation.
“Investing in our schools is an investment into our students’ futures,” said Governor DeWine. “Allowing more schools to purchase equipment so they can train more students will set them and our state up for success.”
“New technologies are transforming the economy, and to prepare students for those careers, we need to invest in the machinery, technologies, and training that educators need to prepare students for the growing number of careers in the Ohio economy,” said Lt. Governor Husted. “Through these investments, thousands more students will graduate high school career-ready—prepared for careers without college debt and providing Ohio employers with the talent they need to compete globally.”
Through the Career Technical Education Equipment Grant Program, 56 schools will receive grants totaling more than $67.7 million, expanding career technical education access to an additional 10,345 Ohio students. Recipients will use the funding to purchase new equipment for career technical and compact schools across Ohio for various programs including engineering, manufacturing, health sciences, construction, and more.
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“Ohio’s career and technical education programs are essential to advancing workforce readiness opportunities for students,” said Stephen D. Dackin, director of the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. “These grants will ensure schools are providing dynamic teaching and learning experiences and giving students the hands-on training, essential knowledge, and valuable skills to succeed.”
Funding for the Career Technical Education Equipment Grant Program was included in the 2024-2025 state operating budget in addition to $200 million for the Career Technical Construction Program. Announced by Governor DeWine and Lt. Governor Husted in November of 2023, 35 schools received awards to update or expand their career tech facilities.
The second round of the Career Technical Education Equipment Grant will open later this spring. Schools interested in applying for the second round can visit Workforce.Ohio.gov/CTEEquipment.
To view the list of awardees, click on the PDF below:
