PIE Receives $375,000 for SW Ohio Youth Workforce Funding
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mary Welsh
(513) 378-8370
maryschlueter@me.com, mary@piemedia.org
Local Nonprofit Receives $375,000 in K-12 Youth Workforce Funding
CINCINNATI– (August 19, 2024)– Cincinnati-based nonprofit organization, Partnership for Innovation in Education (PIE) announced its receipt of $250,000 from Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted, Director of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation (OWT), as one (1) of the twenty-six (26) Industry Sector Partnerships (ISP) located throughout the state. With an additional Southwest Ohio community funding match of $125,000, PIE received a total of $375,000 in funding supporting collaborations bringing Ohioans into the workforce pipeline while meeting the needs of job creators and the local economy.
The awarded PIE ISP focuses on developing an Electric Vehicle, Advanced Mobility and Automotive K-12 Tool Kit programming for Ohio’s 1.6M students with authentic in-classroom and afterschool curriculum, immersive learning, hands-on career-based activities, educator professional development, industry recognized credentialing and programs prequalifying Ohio students for multiple in-demand industry sectors, including advanced manufacturing, transportation, and aerospace.
When the awards were first announced, Lt. Governor Husted stated: “The 2024 ISP awards set a record for the most partnerships created or expanded through the grant in a single round, creating more opportunities for communities and industries to grow that workforce pipeline. It’s important that we encourage collaboration throughout communities so we can train our students with the skills businesses in their regions need and expose them to opportunities available in their own backyards.”
Industry Sector Partnerships are designed to develop regional workforce strategies, with the goal of driving collaboration between local businesses, education and training providers, and community stakeholders. These grants support the operations of both new and existing Industry Sector Partnerships around Ohio.
Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development stated: “Not only are we strengthening the bridge between education and employment, but we’re empowering communities to cultivate strategies that will ensure a skilled workforce for generations to come.”
Ohio invested $12.5 million in Industry Sector Partnerships since 2020. The first three rounds of the Industry Sector Partnership Grant program awarded 27 partnerships a total of $7.5 million.
PIE CEO Mary Welsh Schlueter stated: “We are incredibly honored and excited to receive this funding award. Over the past two years, we served as DriveOhio’s statewide project director and developer of the DriveOhio K-12 Tool Kit. Recognized by the Lt. Governor, the Tool Kit served as the first transportation and workforce education skills-based learning package available to all Ohio School Districts both in-person and digitally. The Automotive, Advanced Mobility and Electric Vehicle Tool Kits will offer workforce learning that can be similarly woven into K-12 academic and career tech classrooms, including afterschool and summer programming. We are excited to continue to provide transformational learning opportunities to students where they can become prequalified in high school for technician and operator jobs spanning Electric Vehicle Design, Transportation Infrastructure, Energy Sustainability, Urban EV Charging Station Construction, Drone Aviation, and Automotive Advanced Manufacturing.”
Learn more about the Industry Sector Partnership Grant here: Workforce.Ohio.gov/ISP.
About 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).
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