YSU and EGCC receive grants

Staff report

COLUMBUS

Youngstown State University and Eastern Gateway Community College are among nine community colleges and three universities that will receive grant funds to expand and develop new workforce development education and training programs.

The nearly $3 million will be used to buy equipment that will enable students and incumbent workers to improve their skills to advance their careers in regional industries.

The grant funds are part of Gov. John Kasich’s workforce development strategies to align Ohio’s higher education curriculum and investments with skills in demand by Ohio’s businesses. The funds will help students and incumbent workers be better positioned for jobs and career advancement. Ohio’s businesses benefit by helping to identify areas of need and preparing pathways for future employment in a region.

YSU will receive $299,015 to buy equipment to support additive manufacturing workforce development. Students and incumbent workers will be able to develop skills in the use of 3-D printing and other new technologies in manufacturing.

EGCC’s $250,000 grant will buy welding equipment to train students as intermediate and advanced welders. The college will partner with the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center in Canfield to implement the new program.

“We want our students to be well-prepared for the jobs that are out there, and we want our businesses to continue to grow and succeed, which in turn will strengthen Ohio’s economy,” Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor John Carey said in a news release. “These grant funds will help us accomplish those goals.”

The state funding comes from higher education bonds used for capital investments. Participating community colleges and universities are partnering with more than 45 companies and 25 other post-secondary institutions, including eight Ohio Technical Centers.

Schools will partner with businesses in their region to provide education and training to meet occupational and skill needs in key JobsOhio industry sectors or functions, including advanced manufacturing and information services and logistics.