DeWine Touts Budget Proposal at Ohio Business Roundtable

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Gov. Mike DeWine promoted his budget proposal during a discussion Monday with Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and Pat Tiberi, president and CEO of the Ohio Business Roundtable.

The discussion at the Ohio Business Roundtable centered on the importance of continued investments in education to build a skilled workforce in the state.

“Students who attend Ohio colleges and universities tend to find jobs here after graduation and continue contributing to our economy,” DeWine said. “This is why our executive budget includes incentives to make Ohio colleges and universities the most attractive options for Ohio students.”

More than 10 years after receiving a bachelor’s degree from an Ohio public university, more than 64% of graduates are still living and working in Ohio, according to a news release. Currently, nearly 14,000 high school graduates per year go out of state for college.

“We are winning deals and creating jobs faster than we can find people to fill them,” Husted said. “It is crucial we support efforts that encourage our best and brightest to stay right here in Ohio so we can continue the economic momentum happening in our state.”

DeWine’s budget proposal includes the following incentives to retain Ohio students:

Ohio College Opportunity Grants: These grants provide need-based scholarships to Ohio students to attend colleges and universities in Ohio. The budget proposal expands eligibility for these scholarships to ensure more working Ohio families have access to post-secondary education.

Merit Scholarships: Students’ work would be rewarded by providing a $5,000 per year scholarship to every Ohio high school graduate who finishes in the top 5% of their class if they chose to go to school in Ohio. Similar merit-based programs in other states have resulted in documented reductions in loss of students ranging from 9% to 28%.

Choose Ohio First Scholarship: Increased funding for the Choose Ohio First scholarship would allow Ohio colleges to award more scholarships to students studying STEM fields. The appropriation for the Choose Ohio First scholarship has more than doubled since the beginning of the DeWine-Husted administration, increasing from $13.8 million in 2020 to a proposed $32 million in 2025. 

“To compete in a global economy, we must be able to attract and retain the best and brightest talent,” Tiberi said. “That can include career certificates, two-year degrees and apprenticeships. However, we must not overlook the importance of four-year degrees to fill our workforce needs. The investments proposed by Gov. DeWine and Lt. Gov. Husted in the state budget will ensure we have the talent necessary to compete for continued economic growth.” 

Pictured at top: Gov. Mike DeWine speaks about the state’s workforce needs Monday. Behind him are Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and Pat Tiberi, president and CEO of the Ohio Business Roundtable.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.