|
Governor DeWine, First Lady DeWine, ODNR Director
Mertz, and others stand at the entrance of the new Storybook Trail
in Rocky Fork State Park after the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Governor Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine joined Ohio
Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Director Mary Mertz
onSundayto open two new Storybook Trails in Southwest Ohio state
parks today. After an official ribbon-cutting ceremony, children and
families walked with the Governor and First Lady on the new
Storybook Trails at Rocky Fork State Park and Cowan Lake State Park
to mark the celebration.
ODNR is offering more communities a path to encourage childhood
literacy, a love of nature, and healthy living for families, through
a partnership with theOhio Governor’s Imagination Library and Dolly
Parton’s Imagination Library.
“There’s no better place to explore, learn, and grow together than
the great outdoors, and we’re excited to provide kids and their
families with more opportunities for adventure,” Governor DeWine
said. “I think this creates a great experience for everyone who
strolls down a Storybook Trail in one of our great state parks.”
.jpg)
Four new Storybook Trails opened this week, which means15 Storybook
Trailsare now spread throughout Ohio state parks. Each Storybook
Trail features a different book, which is revealed panel by panel on
a half-mile trail in a beautiful nature setting.
“We know a child’s brain is 80 percent developed in the first three
years, which is why reading at an early age is so very important,”
said First Lady DeWine. “We now have 45 percent of Ohio children
under the age of 5 enrolled in the Ohio Governor’s Imagination
Library, getting free books every single month. Putting an
Imagination Library Book on a park trail makes the learning
experience even better.”
First Lady DeWine shares the featured
story with kids during a walk through the new Storybook Trail at
Cowan Lake State Park.
Governor DeWine speaks at the Cleveland Police Department's Real
Time Crime Center during his visit on Monday.
OnMonday,Governor DeWine was in Cleveland to visit the Cleveland
Police Department's Real Time Crime Center (RTCC).
Last month, Governor DeWineawarded Cleveland's RTCC with a Violent
Crime Reduction Grantof $355,400 to purchase new technology to
enhance operational intelligence, identify wanted suspects, and
improve situational awareness for officer and citizen safety.
Also onMonday, Governor DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted
announced the approval of assistance for six projects set to create
1,281 new jobs and retain 747 jobs statewide. During its monthly
meeting, the Ohio Tax Credit Authority (TCA) reviewed economic
development proposals brought to the board by JobsOhio and its
regional partners. Collectively, the projects are expected to result
in more than $91.7 million in new payroll and spur more than $185
million in investments across Ohio.
Governor DeWine and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear
announcedTuesdaythat they have jointly submitted an application
requesting nearly $2 billion in federal funding to make much-needed
improvements to the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor that runs through
Northern Kentucky and the City of Cincinnati.
"The Brent Spence Bridge Corridor is a vital centerpiece to the
interstate system of the United States, and we are optimistic that
the federal government will recognize the importance of this project
for both ournational economy and national security," said Governor
DeWine. "With the current supply chain crisis in our country, the
issue of ensuring that this major transportation corridor stays open
and moving has never been more urgent."
“Ohio and Kentucky are working together to seize this
once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve the quality of life for
the millions of Americans who use the federal highway system to
travel between our two states,” said Governor Beshear. “I pledged to
fight for every available federal dollar and have a shovel-ready
project once funding is secured. The time is now to invest in
transformative infrastructure that supports our growing workforce
and safe travel along one of the nation’s most important commerce
corridors.”
Governors DeWine and Beshearannounced their intent to request
fundingfrom the U.S. Department of Transportation in February.
Ohio and Kentucky are seeking $1.66 billion in federal grant
fundingthrough theMultimodal Projects Discretionary Grant.The grant
request represents approximately 60 percent of the remaining $2.77
billion project cost. Each state will also allocate significant
state and other federal dollars toward the project. The states will
split the cost of the new bridge 50/50, and each state will be
responsible for the needed work on its side of the border.
The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Kentucky
Transportation Cabinet (KYTC)recently announcedthat engineering work
on the project will move forward as the federal government considers
the application. ODOT and KYTC will also continue to work on
acquiring property needed to construct the project and will begin
meeting with companies interested in working on this historic bridge
project.
The Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project will construct a critical
companion bridge next to the existing Brent Spence Bridge to improve
traffic flow and safety. Improvements will also be made to the
interstate network on either side of the bridges throughout an
eight-mile corridor from the Western Hills Viaduct interchange in
Ohio to Dixie Highway in Kentucky.
Lt. Governor Husted and JobsOhio President J.P. Nauseef pictured
with representatives from Clinical Trials and Consulting, Inc.
during a grand opening ceremony of their new lab in Cincinnati.
Additionally,Lt. Governor Husted traveled to Cincinnati
onTuesdayforClinical Trials and Consulting, Inc.'s (CTI)labgrand
openingceremony. In partnership with Cincinnati Innovation District
(CID) partner Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and JobsOhio’s regional
affiliate REDI Cincinnati,thisnew 37,000 square-foot laboratorywill
house molecular, cellular and bioanalytical testing as well as
biorepository and kit building services for clients and create 70
new jobs.
CTI is one of the 20 largest Clinical Research Organizations (CRO)
in the world and employs over 1,000 associates in 65 countries
across the globe. The company was named #1 CRO in the world for
Operational Excellence at the 2021 CRO Leadership Awards and is a
finalist in five categories for the 2022 awards to be given in June.
In accordance with the orders issued by the President of the United
States of America and in remembranceof the victims of the shooting
in Uvalde, Texas, Governor DeWineorderedonWednesdaythat the flags of
the United States and the State of Ohio beflown at half-staff upon
all public buildings and grounds throughout the State of Ohio until
sunset on May 28, 2022.
Lt. Governor Husted speaks with the Workforce Partnership of Shelby
County and education and industry professionals during a roundtable
discussion.
Lt. Governor Husted traveled to theWorkforce Partnership of Shelby
County onWednesdaytoparticipate in a roundtable discussionwith
education and industryprofessionalsand provide remarks at a ceremony
forhigh school juniors and seniorssigningwith companies.
.jpg)
The Workforce Partnership of Shelby County received
a$250,000Industry Sector Partnership (ISP)“Accelerant”grant in the
first round of the ISP grant program to focus on building a
workforce pipeline in the construction, manufacturing, healthcare
and transportation industries.
.jpg)
In the afternoon, Lt. Governor Husted toured the Tri Star Career
Compact and speak withteachers, administrators, and local
stakeholders abouttheir efforts to prepare students for the
workforce and the importance of career education.
.jpg)
Tri Star Career Compact is the only compact in Ohio that is not
attached to another school.Nine schools in Mercer and Auglaize
counties make-up Tri Star's Career Technical district. These nine
districts have developed a curriculum of programs for junior and
senior students who have an interest in a Career Technical field.
On Thursday, Governor DeWine and Ohio Department of Higher Education
(ODHE) Chancellor Randy Gardner named the first group of Ohio
colleges and universities designated as Collegiate Purple Star
campuses for their efforts to support students with military
backgrounds.
These 33 first-ever Collegiate Purple Star awards advance the work
already done by Ohio’s PreK-12 school system to create the Purple
Star designation for those schools that worked to become military
friendly. Ohio is the first state in the nation to offer these
designations.
“Congratulations to the 33 schools chosen as the first Collegiate
Purple Star campuses! Thank you for being examples of Ohio’s proud
tradition of honoring our service men and women,” said Governor
DeWine. “With these Collegiate Purple Star Award designations,
servicemembers, veterans, and military-connected students are able
to pursue higher education knowing that their school has the
necessary support system and guidance to help them find their next
steps.”
“Ohio has a long history of supporting its veterans and
servicemembers, and we are now the first state in the nation where
you can receive that support from pre-kindergarten all the way
through your postsecondary education and beyond,” Chancellor Gardner
said. “May is Military Appreciation Month, which reminds us that
it’s important to honor our military for all they do. Today, I
congratulate these 33 colleges and universities for being the first
Collegiate Purple Star campuses.”
Also on Thursday, Governor DeWine awarded more than $2 million in
funding to help local law enforcement agencies combat violent crime
and protect their communities.
Eight law enforcement agencies will receive grants as part of the
second round of Governor DeWine’s newOhio Violent Crime Reduction
Grant Program.Funding will primarily be used to recruit, retain, and
hire law enforcement officers.
"To protect the public, we need to keep our law enforcement
agencies fully staffed," said Governor DeWine. "These grants will
help agencies recruit and retain officers to ensure that there are
enough law enforcement officers patrolling the streets and
preventing crime."
Lt. Governor Husted speaks at the City of Gahanna Economic
Development event on Thursday.
.gif)
On Thursday evening, Lt. Governor Husted and Second Lady Tina
Husted stopped by the City of Gahanna Economic Development event,
where they spoke about the impact of Intel in Ohio.
Governor DeWine, First Lady DeWine, and Gold Star Father Jim Tate
honor military members and thier families.
.jpg)
On Friday, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine,
First Lady Fran DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, and Second Lady
Tina Husted today honored the men and women who sacrificed their
lives in service to their county by joining Gold Star families in a
wreath-laying ceremony at the Ohio Statehouse ahead of Memorial Day.
"Memorial Day is a time to recognize the sacrifices made in
conflicts long ago and those that are heartbreakingly recent," said
Governor DeWine. "As we lay a wreath as a symbol of our commitment
to honor and remember, please say a prayer for peace, a prayer for
our fallen heroes, and a prayer for their loved ones."
During the ceremony, Governor DeWine recognized Ohioans Army Sgt.
Joseph Collette, Army Pfc. Brandon Kreischer, Navy HM3 Maxton Soviak,
and Marine Cpl. Jacob Tate who all died while serving in Afghanistan
and had family members present at the ceremony. Also recognized was
Army Pfc. Chauncy Sharp, who was killed in action in Korea, and
whose remains were recently returned to his family after 72 years.
“Freedom is not free, it has been won and is daily secured and
maintained by sacrifice,” said Lt. Governor Husted. “This Memorial
Day, let us all be reminded of our brave fallen servicemen and women
who have answered the highest call to service; to protect and
advance the cause of freedom. May God bless them and their
families.”
In recognition of Memorial Day and in honor of the men and women
who gave their lives in service to the United States, Governor
DeWineorderedonFridaythat the flags of the United States and the
State of Ohio beflown at half-staff upon all public buildings and
grounds throughout the State of Ohio from sunrise until noon on May
30, 2022.
Also on Friday, Governor DeWine outlined Ohio’s next steps for
enhancing the safety of Ohio’s students, teachers, and school
personnel.
“We continue to pray for the families who have lost their children;
there’s nothing in the world more difficult than losing a child,”
said Governor DeWine. “It is important to identify early on someone
who is having problems in order to intervene and get them the help
they need. We must do more to strengthen our schools’ physical
security, and we must ensure school personnel have the proper
training and support to keep themselves and their students safe.
While our work continues, I commend Ohio’s school officials, who
have worked very hard over the last few years to prepare, prevent,
avert, and avoid tragedies.”
The priorities announced today will focus on helping school
officials evaluate potential threats and develop appropriate
responses, as well as improve the physical security of school
buildings and campuses. Governor DeWine will also work to further
expand Ohio’s behavioral health workforce to increase access to
mental health services when and where they are needed and will
continue offering ongoing support to Ohio’s law enforcement agencies
to prevent violent crime. |
