As a part of a state-wide Career Tech Construction grant program, the Governor’s Office announced that $300 million will be awarded to 35 career technical districts, including Eastland-Fairfield Career & Technical Schools.
On Friday, November 3, 2023, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine affirmed his commitment to career-technical education at a press conference held in Kettering, Ohio, where he announced that $300 million of the state budget will be allocated toward career technical center improvements across the state. Eastland-Fairfield Career & Technical Schools will receive $4.02 million in grant money as a part of the Career Tech Construction grant program.
The grant is funded by the state budget and broken into two different grant programs, the Career Tech Equipment ($100 million) and Career Tech Construction ($200 million) grant programs. Thirty-five Ohio career-technical districts received funds through the grant programs.
“Eastland-Fairfield is very grateful to Governor DeWine and his office for all their support of career technical education,” said Eastland-Fairfield superintendent/CEO Shelley Groves. “These funds will support Eastland-Fairfield in its mission to serve more students and families in the central Ohio region, as well as support our communities’ local economic needs through skilled workforce growth.”
The grant will be put to use towards the construction of a new Welding lab, which will be housed at Fairfield Career Center in Carroll. This was one of multiple proposals submitted by Eastland-Fairfield to the Governor’s Office for consideration. A second Welding section will be added to the existing program at Eastland Career Center in Groveport as a result of this funding.
The additional funding from the incoming grant will allow for previously allocated funds to be used to support other elements of a board-approved master facilities expansion plan. More details will be provided about the master plan in the coming months.
Groves continued, “We’re thrilled that one of our top demands is going to be addressed directly by this generous grant. We’re also excited about the additional work that can be done to serve future adult and high school students across the planning district that will follow as part of our larger master facilities expansion plan.”
Over the previous three years, Eastland-Fairfield has encountered record-breaking enrollment numbers in consecutive years across both high school campuses and its satellite programs. The funding from the CTE grant will help continue fueling the Eastland-Fairfield mission of engaging, enriching, and equipping students every day in every experience.
About Eastland-Fairfield Eastland-Fairfield Career & Technical Schools is the seventh-largest career and technical education district, geographically, in the State of Ohio. We serve more than 5,000 students in 16 school districts throughout Franklin, Fairfield and Pickaway counties. Eastland-Fairfield provides more than 35 high school and adult training programs that enroll more than 1,700 students. The district has two main campuses — Eastland Career Center in Groveport and Fairfield Career Center in Carroll, four satellite locations, and middle school programming housed in 10 different middle schools around the EFCTS district. Eastland-Fairfield also partners with various businesses to provide students career advancement through specific programming or experiences.
Founded in 1969, Eastland-Fairfield Career & Technical Schools’ mission is to engage, enrich, and equip students every day in every experience. We prepare students to pursue their life’s next E: Employment, Enlistment, Entrepreneurship, and/or additional Education. Visit us online at www.eastlandfairfield.com and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn for regular updates, fun content and information.