Staff Report
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jim Tressel, and Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) Director Stephen D. Dackin recently announced the awards of $3.2 million in Career-Technical Education Access Grants.
A total of 10 Career Technical Planning Districts and Ohio Technical Centers across the state will each receive $320,000 to establish new manufacturing career-technical education programs in communities where students currently lack access to these opportunities. Collectively, these grants are expected to create approximately 300 new career-tech seats for students in manufacturing programs.
One of the grant recipients is the Adams County Ohio Valley School District, partnering with BESTOhio, with the grant to be used to place a CTE program at North Adams High School.
“The grant was set up, called a CTE Access Grant, and will work with Vitruvian, a 3-D printing company out of Athens,” explained Josh Michael, CTC Program Director. “It will fall under automation technology and allow kids to engineer different kinds of printing, anything that requires digital programming. We are going to open up that opportunity at North Adams High School because they have staff (Dennis Gustin) that is already teaching a similar program (Engineering & Design) that aligns with what this program will offer.”
“If a student is at North Adams, they will be able to take this class and students here at the CTC or any of the other county schools can do it as an online program. It is career-tech based and we will probably start it with juniors and seniors and eventually I would like to see it offered all the way down to eighth grade. That way, if a kids decides they like it, that will give them the opportunity to come to the CTC if they want.”
If this takes off, hopefully we can put it in more buildings,” Michael continued. “We think it will be fun and interesting and I fully expect this to be successful.
These awards come on the heels of CNBC naming Ohio as America’s No. 1 State for Business in 2026. As more companies choose to locate and expand in Ohio, the DeWine-Tressel Administration is continuing to invest in career-technical education and workforce training to ensure students are prepared for the opportunities being created and ready to fill the high-demand jobs of tomorrow.
“Ohio continues to attract businesses that are creating new jobs and investing in our communities – particularly in the manufacturing industry,” said Governor DeWine. “We have a responsibility to ensure that our students are prepared to take advantage of those opportunities. By expanding access to career-technical education in manufacturing, we’re providing these opportunities to more communities across Ohio and helping more young people discover their talents, build valuable skills, and live up to their God-given potential.”
“Opportunity is everywhere in Ohio right now,” said Lt. Governor Tressel. “As more employers create jobs across our state, we have to make sure that every student has the chance to prepare for them. These new manufacturing programs will connect more students with hands-on learning, real-world experience, and local employers so they can build rewarding careers and achieve their goals.”
Through a partnership between DEW and the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA), grant recipients will be able to use OMA’s WorkAdvance Model to build manufacturing programs designed in partnership with local employers so students learn the skills businesses need most.
Each recipient will work with an OMA-endorsed Industry Sector Partnership (ISP) to develop employer-designed curricula, establish paid work-based learning opportunities, provide career coaching, and offer hands-on training closely aligned with Ohio’s workforce needs. Click here to see each recipient’s ISP partner and the location(s) where each new program will be located.
Grant funding will be used to support variety of program needs, including:
- Instructional staff: Hiring and onboarding new manufacturing career-technical education instructors.
- Equipment and supplies: Purchasing industry-standard manufacturing equipment, instructional materials, and lab supplies.
- Curriculum development: Developing curriculum aligned with employer workforce needs.
- Student and family outreach: Supporting student recruitment, family engagement, and career awareness activities.
- Work-based learning: Establishing paid work-based learning opportunities with manufacturing employers.
- Removing barriers to participation: Providing transportation assistance to reduce the most commonly identified barriers to career-technical education participation.
“We want to be certain that Ohio students are ready for every opportunity presented to them and, with the demand for manufacturing jobs growing, it’s imperative for our schools to have the programs required for these careers,” said Director Dackin. “This goes beyond training. Giving our students the tools to be successful means unlocking gifts they may not know they possess. It gives them exposure to new interests, skills, and career paths that will lead to continued innovation in our state.”
“Ohio cannot grow its manufacturing economy without a stronger pipeline of skilled workers. These grants will help schools build programs around the skills employers actually need and give more students a direct path to good-paying manufacturing careers,” said OMA President Ryan Augsburger. “By expanding the WorkAdvance model, Ohio is strengthening the connection between education and industry and building a workforce prepared for the opportunities ahead.”
These investments will expand access to high-quality manufacturing education in communities where these opportunities did not previously exist. The grants support programs in urban, suburban, and rural communities alike, reflecting Ohio’s commitment to expanding workforce opportunities in every region of the state.
Award recipients will develop and launch their programs over the next two years. During the 2026-2027 school year, schools will focus on planning and development. Programs will begin serving students by the start of the 2027-2028 school year.
The Career-Technical Education Access Grant builds on significant state investments in career-technical education. Under Governor DeWine’s leadership, and with the support of the Ohio General Assembly, the state previously invested $300 million through the Career-Technical Equipment Grant and Career-Technical Education Construction Grant programs. These initiatives have expanded facilities, modernized equipment, and created 10,000 new seats for students in career-technical education across Ohio.