Carey to visit SSCC to discuss business/education grant partnership
Chancellor John Carey of the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) will visit Southern State Community College Monday, Nov. 23, to lead a roundtable discussion with RAPIDS Grant partners to discuss funding awarded to the region. The event will be held 1:30 p.m. in Room 123 of the college’s Central Campus, 100 Hobart Drive, Hillsboro.
A consortium formed by Southern State Community College, Shawnee State University, and Ohio University’s Southern and Chillicothe campuses recently received a regional award from the ODHE for workforce development projects relating to the department’s Regionally Aligned Priorities in Delivering Skills (RAPIDS) program.
Chancellor Carey said these collaborations are a prime example of colleges and universities sharing resources to operate more efficiently and help their students get a quality education more affordably.
“Governor Kasich and the legislature want to strengthen our workforce in all regions using an economic development focus, building a foundation that will carry Ohio well into the future,” Chancellor Carey said. “What makes investment sense from the state level is awarding efforts that partner to expand strong, existing programming that will lead to good-paying jobs for Ohio students.”
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The state Controlling Board approved an ODHE request to transfer $2 million in capital funds for the purpose of providing regional awards in southeast and central Ohio. The funds will support education and skill training of students and/or incumbent workers to meet needs in Highland, Adams, Ross, Pike, Scioto, Lawrence, Jackson, Vinton, Gallia, Meigs, Hocking and Athens counties.
The southeast Ohio award went to the Southeast Ohio RAPIDS Investment Consortium. The group identified three areas for workforce development investment – environmental safety/security, advanced manufacturing, and health and wellness – with regional business support from numerous economic development partners. The funding will allow the consortium and its partners to focus on developing skilled workers in the following occupations: manufacturing engineering technologist, industrial engineering technician, industrial manufacturing engineer, mechanical drafter, tool and die maker, model maker, pattern maker, foundry mold and core maker, nurse, environmental scientist, environmental engineer, occupational health and safety worker and clinical lab technician.
Prior to the afternoon roundtable discussion at 1:30, Chancellor Carey will tour regional partner The Laurels of Hillsboro, 175 Chillicothe Ave., Hillsboro.
“We are keenly interested in this program because of the pressing need to add high-demand healthcare professionals to the regional workforce,” said a spokesperson for The Laurels.
For more information about the RAPIDS program and how it will benefit the area’s business and education communities, visit www.ohiohighered.org/content/rapids_home.