Ohio Gov. Announces Grants to Equip Students for Careers in Growing Industries.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jim Tressel, and Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) Chancellor Mike Duffey announced that $8.3 million was awarded to 39 universities, community colleges, and career technical centers across Ohio through the latest round of Super RAPIDS grants.

Awardees will use this funding to update equipment to enhance training opportunities for over 6,600 students – preparing them for careers in Ohio’s expanding manufacturing industries.

The Super RAPIDS grants were awarded through a competitive process that prioritized employer input. Over 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.

The entirety of 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 (RAPIDS) 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 and allowing more students to get an affordable, high-quality education.