Apollo Career Center Awarded $320,000 to Expand Manufacturing Education

Apollo Career Center is among 10 career-technical education organizations receiving state funding to establish or expand manufacturing programs for Ohio students.

Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jim Tressel and Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Director Stephen Dackin announced Friday that $3.2 million is being awarded through the Career-Technical Education Access Grant program.

Each recipient will receive $320,000. Apollo Career Center serves students from Allen and Putnam counties.

The grants are intended to create manufacturing career-technical education programs in communities where students currently have limited or no access to those opportunities. State officials estimate the funding will collectively create approximately 300 new seats in manufacturing programs.

Recipients will partner with the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association and local employers to develop programs based on the skills manufacturers need from future workers.

The programs may include employer-designed curriculum, paid work-based learning opportunities, career coaching and hands-on technical training.

Grant money can be used to hire and train instructors, purchase industry-standard equipment and supplies, develop curriculum and recruit students. Funding may also support transportation assistance and other efforts to remove barriers that prevent students from participating in career-technical education.

Schools will spend the 2026-2027 academic year planning and developing the new programs. Students are expected to begin participating by the start of the 2027-2028 school year.

Other grant recipients include the Adams County Ohio Valley Local School District, Buckeye Joint Vocational School District, Cincinnati Public Schools, Dayton Public Schools, Pioneer Career and Technology Center, Switzerland Local School District, Tolles Career and Technical Center, Tri-Rivers Career Center and U.S. Grant Career Center.

The Career-Technical Education Access Grant follows previous state investments totaling $300 million for career-tech equipment and construction projects. State officials say those earlier programs helped modernize equipment, expand facilities and create approximately 10,000 additional career-technical education seats across Ohio.