COLUMBUS, Ohio – Youngstown State University and Mahoning County Career & Technical Center are among the educational institutions awarded funding in the latest round of Super Regionally Aligned Priorities in Delivering Skills grants.
MCCTC was awarded $126,354, and YSU received $30,822. Gov. Mike DeWine, Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel and Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor Mike Duffey announced the recipients of the $8.3 million grants Wednesday.
Awardees will use the funding to update equipment to enhance training opportunities for more than 6,600 students, preparing them for careers in Ohio’s expanding manufacturing industries.
“We’re seeing historic investments in Ohio that are creating thousands of new jobs, and we need a workforce ready to step into those opportunities,” DeWine said. “This Super Rapids funding will ensure students are training on the same state-of-the-art equipment they’ll use on the job, giving them a direct path to these careers.”
The Super Rapids grants were awarded through a competitive process that prioritized employer input. More than 130 businesses, spread across Ohio’s seven JobsOhio regions, played a key role in shaping the proposals, ensuring that the funded projects address the specific skill needs of regional industries. This approach allows Ohio’s training institutions to rapidly adapt to changing workforce demands and prepare students for the jobs that are most in demand in their region.
“As Ohio continues to attract new businesses and grow key industries all across the state, it’s up to us to connect our students with the training they need to start a great career right here in Ohio,” Tressel said. “Super Rapids helps schools provide hands-on training that directly matches what employers need, ensuring our graduates are prepared to bring their skills to the workforce on Day One.”
The $8.3 million available through this round of grant funding will be awarded to help schools upgrade their lab and classroom space with new, modern equipment.
Ohio’s Super Rapids program provides additional one-time funding to supplement ODHE’s traditional Regionally Aligned Priorities in Delivering Skills grant program.
Rapids grants are used to purchase equipment for use in classrooms specific to regional workforce needs. Equipment purchased by grantees is often shared among multiple campuses, expanding the reach of the equipment.
“The Rapids program has been a win-win for Ohio’s campuses and regional employers since its inception,” Duffey said. “This latest investment will continue that trend by meeting the most urgent workforce needs and positioning students for a successful future.”