Ohio

Schools across Ohio receive funding to improve technical education and workforce readiness

Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted have announced a new round of awards under the Career Technical Education Equipment Grant Program. This initiative, now in its second round, has granted funding to 34 schools across the state, enhancing career and technical education opportunities for 6,330 students. The program aims to support students in gaining hands-on skills for future employment while bolstering Ohio’s workforce needs.

“Investing in our schools and making sure they have updated equipment for training is an investment into our students’ futures,” stated Governor DeWine. “Providing the opportunity for more schools to purchase equipment so they can train additional students will set them – and our state – up for success.”

Lt. Governor Husted emphasized the importance of equipping students with modern skills for a seamless transition to the workforce, saying, “We want every high school graduate to be career-ready, and to make that happen, students need to train on the same modern equipment they will have in the workplace.”

Expanding Career Pathways Across Ohio

The funding granted to these schools will be used to upgrade and purchase equipment to teach in-demand skills in programs such as engineering, advanced manufacturing, software development, healthcare, construction, and agriculture. The diverse array of programs and the statewide distribution reflect Ohio’s commitment to building a robust workforce across a variety of industries. Notable grant recipients include:

  • Apollo Career Center in Allen County: Awarded $1,175,925 for automation, robotics, advanced manufacturing, and agriculture programs.
  • EHOVE Career Center in Erie County: Granted $2,046,904 for a wide range of fields, including criminal justice, exercise science, medical careers, construction, manufacturing, and welding.
  • Pike-Delta-York Local School District in Fulton County: Received $2,500,000, the highest individual award, to enhance agriculture programs.
  • Huber Heights City Schools in Montgomery County: Awarded $2,037,630 for engineering education.

The Career Technical Education Equipment Grant Program’s second round is expected to further increase educational access to essential fields, building on the success of the first round of funding. In March, the first application period awarded grants to 57 schools, totaling just under $70 million, and expanded technical education to an additional 10,545 students per year.

Equipping Schools for Workforce Success

Director Stephen D. Dackin, from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, emphasized the critical role the grants will play: “The second round of the Career Technical Education Equipment Grant will offer even more students hands-on experience and educational opportunities in a variety of in-demand, high-wage pathways.”

The grant is part of a larger initiative to prepare students for meaningful careers and meet Ohio’s labor market needs. Among the 91 schools that have received funding through both rounds of the program, 58 were traditional high schools that had not previously offered career technical education. This expansion demonstrates the effort to reach more students and diversify educational opportunities.

List of Additional Awardees

Other grant recipients include:

  • Manchester Local Schools (Adams County): $280,680 for software development.
  • Southern Hills Career Technical Center (Brown County): $1,737,988 for advanced manufacturing and allied health and nursing.
  • National Trail Local School District (Preble County): $19,687 for engineering and agriculture.
  • Brookfield Local Schools (Trumbull County): $1,444,402 for engineering programs.

The awarded schools will receive grants ranging from $142,773 to $2.5 million, enabling them to purchase state-of-the-art equipment for high-demand job training programs that align with Ohio’s workforce development goals. Click here to check the full list of awards.

Supporting Ohio’s Economic Future

The Career Technical Education Equipment Grant Program’s two rounds will ultimately provide 16,875 additional students access to career technical education statewide. With $34 million awarded in this round, and a combined total investment approaching $100 million, Ohio’s leadership aims to equip students with the skills necessary for successful careers and economic prosperity.

For more details on the Career Technical Education Equipment Grant Program and its impact on Ohio’s workforce, visit Workforce.Ohio.gov/CTEEquipment.

Show More

Related Articles