Mahoning County school receives a $650,000 grant. What will it be used for?
The Valley STEM + ME2 Academy recently announced it has been awarded close to $650,000 in grant funding through the Ohio Department of Education’s Career Technical Education Equipment Program.
Valley STEM is one of 34 schools across Ohio to receive the critical funding, which aims to support the development of a skilled workforce by upgrading schools’ equipment to meet the demands of Ohio businesses.
These funds will be used to enhance the academy’s manufacturing and engineering labs, providing students with hands-on training using state-of-the-art equipment, according to the academy.
Andrew Hampton, Valley STEM principal said the improvements will empower students to develop the skills needed by Ohio’s growing industries, preparing them for high-demand careers in fields such as advanced manufacturing, engineering, and technology.
“It is clear that Lt. Governor Jon Husted and the Office of Workforce Transformation have made the commitment to developing a robust workforce for the future of Ohio,” he said. “The students at the Valley STEM + ME2 Academy will have the opportunity to engage in manufacturing and engineering activities that will put them on a trajectory for a career pathway, workforce contribution, and their version of the American Dream within the Mahoning Valley and great state of Ohio because of this commitment.”
Hampton said the grant application process was a team effort, with two Valley STEM instructors, Todd Van Orman and Mike Lopuchovsky, playing a key role in the development and submission of the grant proposal.
Industry partnerships played a crucial role as well, according to Hampton.
Partnerships included:
- Humtown
- Mahoning Valley Manufacturing Coalition
- Altronic
- GreenBoardIT
- Mahoning County Sheriff
- KTSDI
- JuggerBot3D, and
- Sapientia Ventures
The Career Technical Education Equipment Program, overseen by the Ohio Department of Education, provides schools across the state with the resources to equip students with the skills necessary for employment in critical fields.
The program is part of Ohio’s broader effort to address workforce shortages and prepare students to meet the needs of local businesses.