Rep. McNally announces $1,282,262 to support Youngstown State University, Choffin Career and Technical Center

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Lauren McNally (D-Youngstown) today announced $902,378 for Youngstown State University (YSU) and $379,884 for Choffin Career and Technical Center in Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) Super Regionally Aligned Priorities in Delivering Skills (RAPIDS) Grants. 

“I’m happy to support state investment in both traditional 4-year college paths and non-traditional career- tech paths,” said Rep. McNally. “Continuing to support our local institutions allows for our kids to stay in the Mahoning Valley to further their education and start their own careers.”

A total of $47.3 million has been awarded in six rounds of the traditional RAPIDS program, whereas Super RAPIDS Grants, provided by a significant expansion in funding in the state operating budget, will give $40 million to 81 higher education institutions across Ohio in this application period and are meant to invest in strategic initiatives that build capacity, remove employment and training barriers for prospective and unemployed workers, develop and strengthen business-led strategies in the impacted industries, and provide local guided solutions to employment for communities in economic transition. 

“Prioritizing our kids and their futures is important for the state of Ohio and connecting state resources to the Mahoning Valley is crucial to our community’s success,” said Rep. McNally. 

Super RAPIDS Grants are meant to support collaborative projects among qualifying institutions to strengthen education and training opportunities that maximize workforce development efforts through a one-time funding boost to the traditional RAPIDS program. The proposal submission window was September 5-October 5, 2023 with higher education institutions needing to meet an array of criteria including evidence of meaningful business support and engagement as well as sustainability beyond the grant period.