YSU granted over $320k in state funding for improvements on campus
A little over $320,000 has been granted in funding for various improvements on campus at Youngstown State University by the state of Ohio, according to State Rep. Lauren McNally (D-Youngstown).
Campus safety grant
According to McNally, a portion of the funding comes from the Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS) and the Chancellor of Higher Education’s Campus Safety Grant program.
The university will be able to purchase new video camera systems to improve overall campus security and safety inside buildings on the public grounds through the $62,776 grant.
The Ohio Controlling Board approved the funding.
“Student safety must be a priority in Ohio, and these upgrades are a necessary part of that,” said Rep. McNally. “I’m glad YSU’s campus will get these improvements.”
According to the grant request, YSU intends to purchase the video equipment from CDW-G and hire Zenith Systems LLC for the installation on campus.
Funding for workforce-based training, equipment
The bulk of the funding going to YSU approved by the controlling board will be delegated for workforce-based training and overall development of skills necessary for students seeking Ohio jobs after receiving their degree.
According to McNally’s office, the $263,994 grant comes from the Ohio Department of Education RAPIDS program and the ODE’s Workforce Based Training and Equipment program.
RAPIDS stands for Regionally Aligned Priorities in Delivering Skills. The program is about retaining and expanding local businesses and attracting further entrepreneurship.
The workforce development program looks at the current needs of high-demand industries. It outlines skill training of students and incumbent workers to match those needs.
“We have a problem with keeping young people in Ohio after they graduate with a four-year degree,” said Rep. McNally. “I’m glad the state is doing its part to give our students and businesses in Mahoning Valley the resources they need, but let’s be clear that more investment in people is needec. We need to create more economic options for employment, goods, and services, as well as a supportive cultural environment, if we want these investments to pay off down the road.”
Here’s what YSU plans to do with the funds, according to the release from McNally:
“The proposed equipment purchase by YSU will directly impact the capacity and capability of the institution in serving students and regional businesses. It will be used for manufacturing education, training, and up-skilling current and future workers of Ohio and developing a talent pipeline that addresses the skill and workforce needs of Ohio’s growing and high-demand businesses and industries.
The Ohio Controlling Board Request states that YSU, along with a group of regional stakeholders, have been working together to propose a truly innovative strategy for manufacturing education. This strategy involves the breaking down of institutional barriers to collaboration, the development of a coordinated strategy for this in-demand education, and the sharing of resources, including equipment, to maximize impacts while minimizing costs. This proposed request under the RAPIDS program will support that effort and illustrates the potential value of this unique strategy in terms of both workforce outcomes and responsible use of public resources.”
“As an anchor institution, both in the Mahoning Valley and the state, it is imperative that we continue investing in YSU,” said Rep. McNally. “I believe in the people of this region and their ability to work hard. I’ll be excited to learn more from the folks on the ground when these programs roll out.”
For more information on state funding, visit the Ohio House of Representatives website.
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