(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon
Husted, and the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) today
announced more than $88 million in funding to help nearly a dozen
Appalachian school districts improve public health and enhance
workforce development in their areas.
OFCC is awarding the funds as part of the Appalachian Community
Innovation Centers Program, which was created in partnership with
the Ohio General Assembly. The goal of the program is to create
full-service centers for public education, community health
services, and career development in Appalachia Ohio.
“This is part of our continued commitment to Ohio’s traditionally
underserved Appalachian communities,” said Governor DeWine. “No
matter where you live in Ohio, everyone deserves access to
high-quality education and healthcare resources, and these new
centers will play an important role in the transformational change
we're beginning to see in this region."
Funding will cover expenses related to the construction of four new
school-based community wellness, education, and career development
centers in Mahoning, Jefferson, Noble, and Brown counties. Seven
existing school-district sites will be renovated or expanded to
provide services in Belmont, Carroll, Lawrence, Gallia, Perry,
Trumbull, and Clermont counties.
Map of School Districts
MORE: Project Summaries and Grant Amounts
Each center will provide programming and services which could
include in-demand job training; Ohio Means Jobs support; classrooms
and computer labs; walk-in health and mental health clinics; on-site
dental services; and wellness, physical health, and training space.
The new centers will be open to any Ohioan who needs assistance,
including those living outside the school districts receiving the
awards.
“This is another way we are investing in innovation, education,
workforce, and communities in Appalachia, boosting economic growth
for the region so that the people living there can have a better
quality of life and brighter future,” said Lt. Governor Jon Husted.
Administered by OFCC with support from the Ohio Office of Budget
and Management, the Appalachian Community Innovation Centers Program
aligns with Governor DeWine's Appalachian Community Grant Program,
which recently awarded $500 million to support downtown and
riverfront revitalization, community health, and economic
development in Ohio's 32
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