Governor DeWine and Lt. Governor Husted at the groundbreaking of Peloton in Luckey, Ohio.
On Monday,?Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted gave remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony for Peloton Output Park in Luckey, Ohio. The new facility will be Peloton's first, dedicated factory in the United States. The project is expected to create 2,174 jobs with a capital investment of $401 million.?
Governor DeWine, First Lady Fran DeWine, and their granchildren help plant a tree in Governor?s Grove at the Natural Resources Park.
Keeping with tradition, Governor DeWine planted a white oak tree in Governor?s Grove at the Natural Resources Park during the Ohio State Fair on Monday. Governor DeWine, who was?joined today by First Lady Fran DeWine and several of their grandchildren, is the seventh Ohio governor to add a tree to the grove.
?Trees represent more than just a shady spot on a sunny day, they symbolize the future of the state of Ohio,? said Governor DeWine. ?Trees clean the air we breathe and the water we drink, and I am honored to continue this tradition in Governor?s Grove.?
The white oak tree has significant cultural, economic, and ecological importance to Ohio. White oak is a key species in Ohio?s $26-billion forest products industry. It is used today to build some of the finest furniture in the world, right here in the state of Ohio. Ohio is also becoming a major source of oak barrels for the wine and spirits industry.
Governor DeWine has previously planted a red oak and a hickory tree in the grove.? Other Ohio governors who have added trees include Jim Rhodes (cucumber magnolia), Richard Celeste (sawtooth oak), George Voinovich (burr oak), Bob Taft (tricolor European beech), Ted Strickland (American linden), and John Kasich (river birch).
?The trees at Governor?s Grove each signify part of our state?s history,? ODNR Director Mary Mertz said. ?Every tree planted is a wise investment in Ohio?s future and we are proud to be able to be a part of this great Ohio State Fair tradition.?
The Natural Resources Park Governor?s Grove was established in 1998. The diverse species of trees added by Ohio?s governors over the years helped the Natural Resources Park to become an official arboretum in 2015. With more than 100 species represented, the park is designated as a Level II-accredited Arboretum through the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program.
Additionally, on Monday, Lt. Governor Husted?provided remarks at the?Findlay Hancock?Economic Development Management Briefing. He discussed Ohio?s economic momentum and state efforts to support workforce development, create jobs, attract talent, and spur business growth.
Lt. Governor Husted speaks with Richland County businesses about workforce development efforts in Ohio.
On Tuesday, Lt. Governor Husted traveled to Mansfield to meet with businesses in Richland County to discuss the TechCred program?and other workforce development efforts.?
Also on Tuesday, Lt. Governor Husted, who serves as Director of the Governor?s Office of Workforce Transformation, announced the results of the June round of TechCred, which will provide the opportunity for Ohioans to earn over 3,000 credentials.
?The TechCred program continues to improve and grow, allowing for more Ohioans to upskill and more businesses to compete,? said Lt. Governor Husted. ?Businesses of all sizes are benefiting from TechCred, and we?re seeing an increase in new employers taking advantage of the program. TechCred is a great example of how our administration is supporting opportunities for?Ohioans?to earn the skills and credentials needed to thrive in today?s economy.?
The most recent TechCred application period closed at the end of June. Today, 263 Ohio employerswere approved for funding, resulting in Ohio employees earning up to 3,149 technology-focused credentials. Both large and small businesses are utilizing the program, with 109 new employers joining the program for the first time this round.
?A skilled workforce is essential to compete in today?s tech-based economy,? said Lydia Mihalik, Director of the Ohio Department of Development. ?TechCred helps employees expand their skills and employers develop the talent they need to grow their businesses.?
With the approvals announced today, a total of 1,419 Ohio employers have been approved for funding, supporting the earning of 26,872 tech-focused credentials by Ohio employees. The recently enacted budget contains funding for an additional 20,000 credentials in each of the next two fiscal years.
?TechCred has exceeded expectations since its launch, proving the value of the program to Ohio employers and creating more opportunities for workers to upskill and earn credentials to bolster their careers and the state?s economy,? said Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor Randy Gardner.?
The current TechCred application period opened on August 1st and closes August 31st at 3:00 p.m. Businesses with employees who have completed their TechCred training should submit proof of credential completion to receive reimbursement at TechCred.Ohio.gov.
On Wednesday, Governor DeWine announced that Bruce T. Vanderhoff, M.D., will become the Director of the Ohio Department of Health and that Stephanie McCloud, who has been serving as Director of the Ohio Department of Health, is returning to lead the Ohio Bureau of Workers? Compensation as Administrator.?
?Working together as a team, Stephanie McCloud and Bruce Vanderhoff guided the Ohio Department of Health over the past nine months. I am pleased that Dr. Vanderhoff has agreed to serve as Director of the Ohio Department of Health. His medical and organizational expertise will help the department as we move forward and continue to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. I would also like to thank Stephanie McCloud for her leadership of the Ohio Department of Health and look forward to her return to lead the Bureau of Workers? Compensation,? said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.
The changes are effective on Monday, August 16. Both positions require confirmation by the Ohio Senate.
Also on Wednesday,?Governor DeWine issued the following statement regarding the Biden Administration?s decision to withdraw approval of Ohio?s Medicaid Work Requirement Waiver:
?The Biden Administration?s announcement withdrawing approval of Ohio?s Medicaid work requirement waiver is extremely disappointing. Ohio?s reasonable approach provided individuals with options while supporting them on their way to self-sufficiency. The Biden?Administration?s decision was shortsighted and contrary to our statewide effort to improve public health. By requiring an individual to work, learn new job skills, or be involved in a recovery program, Ohioans would be providing critical assistance to individuals when they needed it while laying the groundwork for their success in the future.?
Lt. Governor Husted visited the Excellence Training Center at Youngstown State for a workforce development discussion with local stakeholders and to learn first-hand how targeted training is preparing Ohioans for manufacturing jobs in the Mahoning Valley.
On Thursday,?Lt. Governor Husted toured the WorkAdvance program and participated in a workforce development discussion at Youngstown State University?s Excellence Training Center. During the tour he talked with students participating in the training program managed by the Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition (MVMC). Following the tour was a discussion with regional workforce development organizations.
Lt. Governor Husted tours Humtown Products, a local business specializing in additive manufacturing and 3D printing technology research, discovery, creation, and innovation.
The Lt. Governor also traveled to Columbiana County on Thursday to visit Humtown Products in Leetonia to not only tour their manufacturing facility and learn about their innovative products but to also hear about their efforts to bring hands-on STEM learning to local, Columbiana County students.
On Friday,?Lt. Governor Husted provided remarks at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the John and Mary Alford Center for Science and Technology at the Central Ohio Technical College/Ohio State University of Newark.
As of?Friday, there have been 1,155,322 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in Ohio. Additionally, 20,606 confirmed and probable COVID-19 deaths have occurred. A total of 63,117 people have been hospitalized, including 8,592 admissions to intensive care units.
For more information on Ohio's response to COVID-19, visit?coronavirus.ohio.gov?or call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH.
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