Rep. McNally announces $127,389 to support Youngstown State University
COLUMBUS – State Rep. Lauren McNally (D-Youngstown) today announced the State Controlling Board approval of $127,389 in support for Youngstown State University (YSU) from the Ohio Department of Higher Education’s (ODHE) Regionally Aligned Priorities in Delivering Skills (RAPIDS) program.
“Ohio is a manufacturing state if we can keep it that way. I’m proud that our region is working collaboratively to maintain this important part of our state economy and create job access,” said Rep. McNally.
The goal of the RAPIDS program is to retain and expand existing businesses, attract new enterprises and further entrepreneurship by funding initiatives with regional collaboration between business and higher education, emphasizing the building of regional strength in education and training delivery systems to develop and enhance critical workplace and career skills through levels of post-secondary education. It falls within the ODHE Workforce Based Training and Equipment line item in the state budget, meant to support education and skill training of students and/or incumbent workers to meet the current and future talent needs of growing, emerging and high demand industries through investments in capital equipment and facilities.
According to the Ohio Controlling Board Request, YSU will use the requested funds for the purchase of a robotic welder and associated equipment to be used in manufacturing education, training and up-skilling current and future workers of Ohio and developing a talent pipeline that addresses the skill and workforce needs of Ohio’s growing and high-demand businesses and industries. The proposed equipment purchase will directly impact the capacity and capability of the institution to serve students and regional businesses, working alongside a group of regional stakeholders invested in manufacturing education and the breaking down of institutional barriers to collaboration, the development of a coordinated strategy for this in-demand education, and the sharing of resources, including equipment, to maximize impacts while minimizing costs.