Ohio Awards $13.5M to Schools to Help Students Earn Industry Creds

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Grants totaling $13.5 million are being awarded through the state’s Innovative Workforce Incentive Program to 54 Ohio schools.

Those grants will allow the schools to establish new programs for students to earn industry-recognized credentials in priority industry sectors. Lt. Gov. Jon Husted announced the grants on Tuesday.

“This funding will help more high school students earn in-demand career credentials that lead to quality, higher-paying jobs without the steep cost and debt that comes with many college pathways,” Husted said. “Career credentials are what an increasing number of businesses look for when making hiring decisions, and individual Ohioans and the Ohio economy benefit when more high school students graduate career-ready.”

The DeWine-Husted administration and Ohio legislators created the Innovative Workforce Incentive Program to increase the number of high school students who earn industry-recognized credentials. The credentials serve as an important tool to provide students with in-demand skills that can lead to a high-wage job, according to a release.

“Using the funds allocated today, Ohio schools will begin creating programs that open doors for our students to earn the skills they need to succeed in our state’s most in-demand industries,” said Interim State Superintendent of Public Instruction Stephanie K. Siddens. “I’m excited to see these programs selected because I know they are a major contributor to the success of our students.”

Schools can use this funding to invest in resources such as equipment, instructional materials, facilities and operational costs.

Learn more about the Innovative Workforce Incentive Program, including which schools were awarded, by visiting Education.Ohio.gov/IWIP.

General information about high school industry-recognized credentials can be found HERE.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.