Ohio Nonprofit Receives $20,000 for High Impact Workforce Youth Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Mary Welsh
(513) 378-8370
Ohio Nonprofit Receives $20,000 for High Impact Workforce Youth Program
CINCINNATI– (August 15, 2024)–Partnership for Innovation in Education (PIE) was recently awarded a Boots on the Ground grant from Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF). The City of Cincinnati, Greater Cincinnati Foundation and Interact for Health provide Boots on the Ground Funding to strengthen the capacity of small, community-based organizations driving change in Cincinnati in partnership with grassroots organizations that demonstrate the involvement of community members in their decision-making and feature directly impacted stakeholders.
The Partnership for Innovation in Education (PIE) is the Fiscal Agent and Program Director for Aiken New Tech High School and its U.S. Dept. of Education-21st Century Community Learning Center Program. Over a 5-year period (2023-28), PIE is deploying in-school and afterschool transportation and engineering programming preparing students for careers offering industry recognized credentials (IRC) to middle and high school students in socioeconomically challenged neighborhoods. This GCF “Boots” funding will launch an Electric Vehicle Formula 1 (F1) engine design “smART Mobility” student learning program with DriveOhio and University of Cincinnati.
Monies will fund technology, supplies and educator stipends for a 12-month period. Funding will help defray costs for the program implementation to 100 students, and an additional 400 students (500 total) during the 2024-25 academic year, with on-site “hands on” activities moderated by DriveOhio industry partners including a DriveOhio Alliance Member, Honda Motor Company, current lead automotive engineer of the Formula 1 engine.
With GCF funding, PIE strives to offer Cincinnati students the invaluable opportunity to use both synchronous and asynchronous curriculum introducing students and educators to the “smART Mobility” programming, STEAM Content Standards and pre-qualifying Industry Recognized Credentials for auto mechanics, electric battery operators, aviation technicians, electrician assistants, advanced manufacturing operators and drone pilots with annual salaries starting at $45,000.00.
The program titled “Preparing Cincinnati’s Underserved Youth for Advanced Manufacturing, Electric Vehicles and Aerospace Jobs” was chosen by GCF because it supports organizations demonstrating a track record for encouraging and qualifying youth to enter high paying, high quality occupations through in-school and afterschool middle and high school programs.
This program is aligned with the U.S. Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s $5 billion in National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure State funds and $2.5B in discretionary grants. Ohio has a competitive advantage to attract affiliated industry investments, and create new job opportunities in the design, assembly, operations, and maintenance of Electric Vehicles and affiliated industries. Coined the “Silicon Heartland”, Ohio has become a magnet for EV innovation, product development and manufacturing growth, with massive expansions and new advanced manufacturing sites. The Ohio Manufacturing Association forecasts 25K jobs will be available for Ohio’s workforce requiring unique skill set credentialing to support EV development spanning aerospace, manufacturing, automotive & advanced mobility. Currently, Ohio is facing a critical shortage of skilled trades workers, due to an aging workforce & limited awareness in all trades.
“GCF connects generous donors with trusted nonprofits to create a vibrant Greater Cincinnati where every person has a fair opportunity to thrive,” said Adison Nelson, senior director, community investments at GCF. “We’re excited to partner with passionate, community centered organizations like PIE to drive equitable access to educational opportunities and job training for in demand careers. We look forward to working together to ensure more young people have access to spaces where they can explore the latest technology, unearth possibilities for future career and educational success, and meet life-changing mentors to guide them along the way.”
“We are honored to have received this generous grant from Greater Cincinnati Foundation, the City of Cincinnati and Interact for Health. Their commitment to our SW Ohio youth is pivotal to accelerating community vitality and offers students’ better understanding of the area’s transit and technology opportunities. At PIE, we are committed to providing students real-life experiences in Ohio’s leading advanced manufacturing, engineering, transportation and technology careers. Our programs enable students to experience a variety of ‘learning and doing’ programs, both in-classroom and afterschool. This program fits nicely into our role as developer of the K-12 DriveOhio Tool Kit and as Ohio’s Industry Sector Partner in developing the Auto/EV and Advanced Manufacturing K-16 Tool Kit. All these innovative ‘hands on’ workforce and career readiness programs will launch in Cincinnati, and eventually be available statewide to high school students as they prepare for high paying and in-demand occupations,” said Mary Welsh Schlueter, PIE Founder and CEO.
Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF)
Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF) is the region’s leading community foundation, serving an eight-county region in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. Through trusted partnerships and thoughtful stewardship of community assets, GCF builds a more vibrant, opportunity-rich and equitable region for everyone — now, and for generations to come.
Partnership for Innovation in Education (PIE)
Established in 2009 and headquartered in Cincinnati, Partnership for Innovation in Education (PIE) develops transformational educational and industry skill certification tools preparing the 21st century workforce for success in the global marketplace. As a career readiness, talent pipeline and workforce development partner with the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, DriveOhio and Cincinnati Public Schools, PIE features first-ever career simulation, industry skills credentialing, and mentoring alliances with business, education and arts organizations, providing hands-on learning leading to job prequalification inside the K-16 classroom. PIE is a 501c3 nonprofit, tax-exempt organization, awarded the GuideStar Nonprofit “Platinum” Ranking and is an Ohio School District Partner. For more information, visit https://piemedia.org or follow @PIE_Innovation on X (Formerly Twitter).