Clark State College has been selected to receive $$111,553, as part of the RAPIDS—Regionally Aligned Priorities in Delivering Skills program—from the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE). This is the third year Clark State has received RAPIDS funding.

The grant is for the regionally aligned engineering technology proposal. Clark State’s engagement in the RAPIDS program will help improve Ohio’s workforce development capacity, strengthen business and industry partnerships, and train Ohio’s workers for the jobs they will encounter in our 21st century economy.

Dr. Tiffany Hunter, Provost and vice president of academic affairs at Clark State said the College is excited and thankful to have been awarded the RAPIDS grant for manufacturing programs, specifically, Clark State’s engineering technology programs.

“These funds will enable us to make equipment purchases that will provide our students with more hands-on learning experiences that will better prepare them for the workforce within our region as well as strengthen our partnerships with business and industry as we help to meet their workforce needs,” she said.

ODHE Chancellor Randy Gardner said the RAPIDS program has been a successful way to bolster Ohio’s workforce efforts and create a pipeline of skilled workers for regional employers.

“RAPIDS puts students at Clark State in a strong position to train and learn with up-to-date equipment and helps put students on a path to a successful career,” he said. “Having just visited Clark State with Governor DeWine, I’m pleased to see the ways Clark State is a leader in workforce preparation, and that the Governor and legislators continue to support this important program.”

In 2018, Clark State was awarded $93,131 from RAPIDS which was used to strengthen Clark State’s CyberSecurity/Information Assurance, Manufacturing and Physical Therapist Assistant programs.

In 2020, Clark State was awarded $132,233 from RAPIDS to focus on welding robotics and 3D metal printing.