Rep. McNally Announces More Than $221,000 to Support Eastern Gateway Community College

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Lauren McNally (D-Youngstown) today announced the Ohio Controlling Board approved more than $221,000 in support for Eastern Gateway Community College (EGCC) from the Ohio Department of Education’s (ODE) Workforce Based Training and Equipment line item. The program’s mission is the education and skill training of students and/or incumbent workers in meeting the current and future talent needs of growing, emerging and high demand industries through investment in capital equipment and facilities.

“The pandemic taught us a valuable lesson about the importance of healthcare workers, and I continue hearing stories about staffing shortages and how necessary it is to find nurses and pay them well,” said Rep. McNally. “I’m glad our local community colleges can play a role in both filling this workforce shortage and providing the education that leads to a good paying job.”

The funds released by the Controlling Board are part of the ODE’s Regionally Aligned Priorities in Delivering Skills (RAPIDS) program. The program's goals are to retain and expand existing businesses, attract new enterprises, and further entrepreneurship. The proposed equipment purchase by EGCC will be used to enhance the Associate Degree in Nursing (AND) program and other medical-related certificate programs in Steubenville, Jefferson County, and Youngstown by purchasing nursing mannequins and other training equipment.