Southern Ohio Campuses To Share $8 Million for Collaborative Workforce Development
Article Presented By The Bean Foundation…
(Southern Ohio) – Students at Rio Grande Community College, Hocking College, Ohio University, Shawnee State University, Southern State Community College, and six regional career centers will soon be able to train on state-of-the-art equipment and boost their job preparedness thanks to the approval of $8 million in the latest round of Regionally Aligned Priorities in Delivering Skills (RAPIDS) grants.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jim Tressel, and Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) Chancellor Mike Duffey today formally announced approval of the RAPIDS grants. The RAPIDS program provides funding to Ohio public universities and community colleges, partnering with Ohio Technical Centers and independent colleges and universities to purchase equipment for students to use in education and training programs tailored to regional workforce needs.
This region’s awards will be used to develop talent in the fields of advanced manufacturing, public safety (fire protection and police), healthcare, industrial trades, additive manufacturing, and IT/cybersecurity.
Southeast Ohio award totals are as follows: Rio Grande Community College, $87,782 for advanced manufacturing; Pike County Career Technology Center (a sub-awardee of Rio Grande), $65,522 for public safety (fire protection); Pickaway Ross Career and Technology Center (a sub-awardee of Rio Grande), $95,000 for public safety (police); Hocking College, $88,500 for advanced manufacturing; Tri-County Career Center (a sub-awardee of Hocking College), $85,000 for healthcare; Ohio University, $95,000 for healthcare; Shawnee State University, $93,000 for advanced manufacturing; Buckeye Hills Career Center (a sub-awardee of Shawnee State), $95,000 for industrial trades; Collins Career Center (a sub-awardee of Shawnee State), $101,297 for healthcare; Southern State Community College, $78,476 for additive manufacturing; and Scioto County Career Technical Center (a sub-awardee of Southern State), $90,422 for IT/cybersecurity.
“Our RAPIDS grants offer a unique opportunity for Ohio’s campuses and career technical centers to help address specific workforce needs at the local level,” said Governor DeWine. “On an individual level, these grants give our students a tremendous opportunity to learn and refine their skills on the same top-of-the-line equipment being used by cutting-edge businesses across Ohio.”
Equipment purchased by grantees is often shared among multiple campuses, allowing more students to get a quality education more affordably.
“Making sure we’re preparing our workforce of tomorrow to fill all of the incredible job opportunities in Ohio is really a team effort,” said Lt. Governor Tressel. “By investing in this state-of-the-art equipment so more students can access it, and by taking regional workforce needs into consideration, this program will position more of our kids to be career ready the moment they graduate.”
“The RAPIDS program has been a great example of businesses and our higher education institutions working together to develop strategic plans for using these funds,” Chancellor Duffey said. “These awards prepare students for success in the workforce, and that pipeline of skilled workers further strengthens Ohio’s economy.”
Governor DeWine, Chancellor Duffey, and the Ohio General Assembly targeted $8 million in the SFY2024-2025 state operating budget to assist Ohio’s public universities, community colleges, and career technical centers in offering the most up-to-date education possible to provide a skilled workforce for in-demand jobs. Following the recent approval of the state Controlling Board, RAPIDS grant funding will be provided to nearly 100 colleges, universities, and Ohio Technical Centers across the state.
The RAPIDS program was launched in 2014. This marks the seventh round of regional awards.
