On Monday, Governor Mike
DeWine announced that the Ohio Department of Health, the Ohio
National Guard, and the Ohio Hospital Association will expand
COVID-19 testing locations in nine Ohio cities, including several
new locations, starting this week. The additional testing locations
will be mobilized with support from Ohio National Guard personnel.
The locations, which are intended to divert testing traffic from
hospital emergency rooms, come as the state is experiencing the
highest number of COVID-19 hospitalizations during the pandemic. On
Monday, the Ohio Hospital Association reported a record-setting
6,177 inpatient hospitalizations.
“As the demand for COVID-19 testing increases, adding to the
pressure our hospitals are facing, members of the Ohio National
Guard will continue to play a critical role in the state’s
response,” said Governor DeWine. “I commend Guard members for their
commitment to their fellow Ohioans as they answer the call to
serve.”
About 300 members of the Ohio National Guard will provide support
at the additional testing sites, which will be operated in
partnership with Ohio hospitals and health networks.
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On Wednesday, in honor of the life and legacy of Cleveland Police
Officer Shane Bartek, Governor DeWine ordered that flags of the
United States and the State of Ohio be flown at half-staff upon all
public buildings and grounds throughout Cuyahoga County, the Ohio
Statehouse, The Vern Riffe Center, and the Rhodes State Office
Tower. Flags shall remain lowered until sunset on the day of his
funeral, January 11, 2022.
Governor DeWine visits members of the Ohio National Guard at
Defense Supply Center Columbus.
Governor DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine visit members of the
Ohio National Guard at Defense Supply Center in Columbus.
Governor DeWine visits members of the Ohio National Guard at Defense
Supply Center Columbus.
On Thursday, Governor DeWine, First Lady Fran DeWine, and Ohio
Adjutant General Major General John C. Harris, Jr. visited Defense
Supply Center Columbus as approximately 100 members of the Ohio
National Guard report for duty to aid Ohio hospitals during the
current surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations.
Governor DeWine has authorized the activation of 2,300 members of
the Ohio National Guard to provide clinical and non-clinical medical
support across the state.
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Industry Sector Partnership Grant
Also on Thursday, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, Director of the
Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation, announced that 13
workforce partnerships located throughout the state will receive
awards through the Industry Sector Partnership (ISP) Grant. The
program supports partnerships that help bring Ohioans into the
workforce pipeline while meeting the needs of job creators and the
local economy.
The selected partnerships have been awarded a total of $2.58
million and focus on multiple in-demand industry sectors, including
information technology, manufacturing, healthcare, transportation,
and aerospace.
“The awards made today support Industry Sector Partnerships across
the state as they expand best practices to help Ohioans enter the
workforce in many different industries,” said Lt. Governor Husted.
“These partnerships give everyone a seat at the table and require
collaboration between the public and private sectors. We have seen
this model succeed and will continue to invest in partnerships that
prepare more students and job seekers for high wage jobs in their
regions.”
Business, industry, and education leaders from across the state
issued support for the Industry Sector Partnership Grant after
receiving awards.
Additionally, Governor DeWine and Ohio Department of Natural
Resources (ODNR) Director Mary Mertz announced on Thursday that the
Shawnee State Forest will expand by more than 1,200 acres.
“By growing Shawnee State Forest, we are securing, protecting, and
conserving important land in Ohio for the future,” said Governor
DeWine. “The expansion will significantly increase Ohio’s largest
contiguous block of forest, enhancing biodiversity and providing a
mix of recreational opportunities, as well as other direct and
indirect benefits to all Ohioans.”
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Shawnee State Forest
ODNR’s Division of Forestry acquired the property with a federal
partnership grant through the Forest Legacy Program.
The 1,252-acre tract in Scioto County is approximately 75 miles
south of Columbus and 65 miles east of Cincinnati. The land, located
near Shawnee State Park and The Nature Conservancy’s Edge of
Appalachia Preserve, is now part of the state forest. This purchase
will allow ODNR to partner with the Buckeye Trail Association and
reroute a section of the Buckeye Trail off the road and through the
wooded area.
“This partnership with the Buckeye Trail Association will provide people
with an amazing opportunity to see our largest state forest,” said
Director Mary Mertz. “More public land under conservation management
will protect water quality, improve wildlife habitat and forest
products, increase recreational opportunities, and improve ecosystem
services for the local community and people all over the state.”
Ohio’s Forest Legacy Program, which uses perpetual working forest
agreements or fee-simple purchase on working forest lands, was
established in 2005. The Division of Forestry has obtained Legacy
Program funding to permanently protect 9,720 acres of important
working forest land within Ohio. More information about the program
can be found here and by searching for “Forest Legacy” at
ohiodnr.gov.
In addition to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service’s
financial support provided with grant cost-share from the state, the
Ohio Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation and the Ruffed
Grouse Society both contributed funds to support the acquisition.
Ohio students seeking to earn a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)
now have the opportunity to receive financial aid thanks to a new
program announced on Thursday by the Ohio Department of Higher
Education (ODHE) and Governor DeWine.
The Commercial Truck Driver Student Aid Program is meant to promote
and encourage job growth for Ohio’s commercial drivers through
educational training in programs related to employment
opportunities. Funds awarded to eligible institutions through a
competitive application process will be disbursed in the form of
grants and loans to students who enroll in approved CDL training
programs at those institutions. The Student Aid program was
originally enacted in the state’s biennial budget bill (HB110), with
additional parameters of the program set forth in SB166, signed by
Governor DeWine last month.
“Commercial truck drivers are a vital part of Ohio’s economy, and
this program will allow for the growth of this in-demand
occupation,” said ODHE Chancellor Randy Gardner. “I am grateful for
the leadership of Governor DeWine and the General Assembly in
addressing this critical need and providing the funding to help Ohio
students succeed.”
Students receiving funds to complete a CDL program must commit to
reside and be employed in Ohio for a minimum of one year upon
completion of the program. A total of $5 million in funding is
available through the program over the next two years, and eligible
institutions can request a maximum of $200,000 per year to support
their CDL programs.
The application period for institutions opens today. Application
materials can be found on the ODHE website at
https://www.ohiohighered.org/cdl.
Lt. Governor Husted speaks at the Ohio Fair Managers 97th Annual
Convention and Conference.
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On Friday, Lt. Governor Husted spoke at the Ohio Fair Managers 97th
Annual Convention and Conference.
Also on Friday, Governor DeWine announced that Alisha Nelson,
director of RecoveryOhio, has taken a new role in the private
sector.
Governor DeWine appointed Aimee Shadwick, current RecoveryOhio
deputy director, to serve as interim director beginning on January
8, 2022.
"From the time she started working on our Heroin Unit when I was
attorney general through her work on RecoveryOhio, Director Nelson
has made a difference every day. She is a strong and passionate
advocate for those struggling with mental health and substance use
disorders and their families. I am grateful for her dedication and
work to help save lives," Governor DeWine said. "I am confident
Deputy Director Shadwick will build on Director Nelson’s work to
coordinate prevention, interdiction, treatment, and long-term
recovery supports for Ohioans impacted by mental health and
substance use disorders.”
As of Friday, there have been 2,151,829 confirmed and probable
cases of COVID-19 in Ohio. Additionally, 30,072 confirmed and
probable COVID-19 deaths have occurred. A total of 99,170 people
have been hospitalized, including 12,007 admissions to intensive
care units.
CASE DATA/VACCINE INFORMATION
In-depth COVID-19 data for Ohio: coronavirus.ohio.gov.
Ohio's central scheduling system: gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov
All vaccine providers: vaccine.coronavirus.ohio.gov
More vaccine information: coronavirus.ohio.gov/vaccine
For more information on Ohio's response to COVID-19, visit
coronavirus.ohio.gov or call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH.
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