Rep. McNally Announces $2,288,923.43 Awarded to Career Tech Programs in 59th District

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Lauren McNally (D-Youngstown) today announced a total of $2,288,923.43 in state funding for West Branch Local School District and Columbiana County as part of the Ohio Career Technical Education Equipment Grant Program. 

“Career Tech programs offer students an alternative to traditional education paths and are imperative to Ohio’s workforce development,” said Rep. McNally. “With this money, more students in our region will be able to take advantage of these programs and have the most state-of-the-art equipment to train with.”

The Ohio Career Technical Education Equipment Grant Program is a competitive financial grant system that seeks to expand CTE programs in Ohio schools and seeks to better prepare students for careers upon graduation. Priority is set for careers found on Ohio’s Top Jobs List and credentialing from the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation Innovative Workforce Incentive Program list. Funds from the grants will establish or expand upon CTE programs and equipment in schools across the state.  

Funding for this grant program was included in the 2024-2025 state operating budget and totals 56 schools receiving $67.7 million. The first round of awardees includes West Branch Local Schools, $832,470.43, and Columbiana County, $1,456,453. A second round of grant opportunities from the Career Technical Education Grant Program will be offered this spring.