Governor Mike DeWine




*WEEK IN REVIEW*
Friday, January 7, 2022

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine Week in Review

"For the week ending January?7, 2022

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On *Monday [ [link removed] ]*,?Governor Mike DeWine announced that the Ohio Department of Health, the Ohio National Guard, and the Ohio Hospital Association will expand COVID-19 testing locations in nine Ohio cities, including several new locations, starting this week. The additional testing locations will be mobilized with support from Ohio National Guard personnel. The locations, which are intended to divert testing traffic from hospital emergency rooms, come as the state is experiencing the highest number of COVID-19 hospitalizations during the pandemic. On Monday, the?Ohio Hospital Association [ [link removed] ]?reported a record-setting 6,177 inpatient hospitalizations.

?As the demand for COVID-19 testing increases, adding to the pressure our hospitals are facing, members of the Ohio National Guard will continue to play a critical role in the state?s response,? said Governor DeWine. ?I commend Guard members for their commitment to their fellow Ohioans as they answer the call to serve.?

About 300 members of the Ohio National Guard will provide support at the additional testing sites, which will be operated in partnership with Ohio hospitals and health networks.

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U.S. Flag

On *Wednesday [ [link removed] ]*, in honor of the life and legacy of Cleveland Police Officer Shane Bartek, Governor DeWine?ordered [ [link removed] ]?that flags of the United States and the State of Ohio be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings and grounds throughout Cuyahoga County, the Ohio Statehouse, The Vern Riffe Center, and the Rhodes State Office Tower. Flags shall remain lowered until sunset on the day of his funeral, January 11, 2022.


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Governor DeWine visits members of the Ohio National Guard at Defense Supply Center Columbus.

Governor DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine visit members of the Ohio National Guard at Defense Supply Center in Columbus.

Governor DeWine visits members of the Ohio National Guard at Defense Supply Center Columbus. ________________________________________________________________________

On *Thursday*,?Governor DeWine, First Lady Fran DeWine, and Ohio Adjutant General Major General John C. Harris, Jr. visited Defense Supply Center Columbus as approximately 100 members of the Ohio National Guard report for duty to aid Ohio hospitals during the current surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations.

Governor DeWine has authorized the activation of 2,300 members of the Ohio National Guard to provide?clinical and non-clinical medical support across the state.


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Industry Sector Partnership Grant

Also on?*Thursday*,?Lt. Governor Jon Husted, Director of the Governor?s Office of Workforce Transformation, announced that 13 workforce partnerships located throughout the state will receive awards through the Industry Sector Partnership (ISP) Grant. The program supports partnerships that help bring Ohioans into the workforce pipeline while meeting the needs of job creators and the local economy.

The selected partnerships have been awarded a total of $2.58 million and focus on multiple in-demand industry sectors, including information technology, manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, and aerospace.

?The awards made today support Industry Sector Partnerships across the state as they expand best practices to help Ohioans enter the workforce in many different industries,? said Lt. Governor Husted. ?These partnerships give everyone a seat at the table and require collaboration between the public and private sectors. We have seen this model succeed and will continue to invest in partnerships that prepare more students and job seekers for high wage jobs in their regions.?

Business, industry, and education leaders from across the state issued support [ [link removed] ] for?the Industry Sector Partnership Grant after receiving awards.

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Additionally,?Governor DeWine and Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Director Mary Mertz announced on *Thursday [ [link removed] ]* that the Shawnee State Forest will expand by more than 1,200 acres.

?By growing Shawnee State Forest, we are securing, protecting, and conserving important land in Ohio for the future,? said Governor DeWine. ?The expansion will significantly increase Ohio?s largest contiguous block of forest, enhancing biodiversity and providing a mix of recreational opportunities, as well as other direct and indirect benefits to all Ohioans.?

Shawnee State Forest

ODNR?s Division of Forestry acquired the property with a federal partnership grant through the Forest Legacy Program.

The 1,252-acre tract in Scioto County is approximately 75 miles south of Columbus and 65 miles east of Cincinnati. The land, located near Shawnee State Park and The Nature Conservancy?s Edge of Appalachia Preserve, is now part of the state forest. This purchase will allow ODNR to partner with the Buckeye Trail Association and reroute a section of the Buckeye Trail off the road and through the wooded area.

?This partnership with the Buckeye Trail Association will provide people with an amazing opportunity to see our largest state forest,? said Director Mary Mertz. ?More public land under conservation management will protect water quality, improve wildlife habitat and forest products, increase recreational opportunities, and improve ecosystem services for the local community and people all over the state.?

Ohio?s Forest Legacy Program, which uses perpetual working forest agreements or fee-simple purchase on working forest lands, was established in 2005. The Division of Forestry has obtained Legacy Program funding to permanently protect 9,720 acres of important working forest land within Ohio. More information about the program can be found?here [ [link removed] ]?and by searching for ?Forest Legacy? at?ohiodnr.gov [ [link removed] ].

In addition to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service?s financial support provided with grant cost-share from the state, the Ohio Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation and the Ruffed Grouse Society both contributed funds to support the acquisition.


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"?"Ohio students seeking to earn a Commercial Driver?s License (CDL) now have the opportunity to receive financial aid thanks to a new program announced on *Thursday* [ [link removed] ] by the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) and Governor DeWine. ??

The Commercial Truck Driver Student Aid Program is meant to promote and encourage job growth for Ohio?s commercial drivers through educational training in programs related to employment opportunities. Funds awarded to eligible institutions through a competitive application process will be disbursed in the form of grants and loans to students who enroll in approved CDL training programs at those institutions. The Student Aid program was originally enacted in the state?s biennial budget bill (HB110), with additional parameters of the program set forth in SB166, signed by Governor DeWine last month.

?Commercial truck drivers are a vital part of Ohio?s economy, and this program will allow for the growth of this in-demand occupation,? said ODHE Chancellor Randy Gardner. ?I am grateful for the leadership of Governor DeWine and the General Assembly in addressing this critical need and providing the funding to help Ohio students succeed.?

Students receiving funds to complete a CDL program must commit to reside and be employed in Ohio for a minimum of one year upon completion of the program. A total of $5 million in funding is available through the program over the next two years, and eligible institutions can request a maximum of $200,000 per year to support their CDL programs.

The application period for institutions opens today. Application materials can be found on the ODHE website at?[link removed].

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Lt. Governor Husted speaks at the Ohio Fair Managers 97th Annual Convention and Conference.?

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On *Friday,*?Lt. Governor Husted spoke at the Ohio Fair Managers 97th Annual Convention and Conference.?


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Also on *Friday [ [link removed] ]*, Governor DeWine announced that?Alisha Nelson [ [link removed] ], director of RecoveryOhio, has taken a new role in the private sector.?

Governor DeWine appointed?Aimee Shadwick [ [link removed] ], current RecoveryOhio deputy director, to serve as interim director beginning on January 8, 2022.

"From the time she started working on our Heroin Unit when I was attorney general through her work on RecoveryOhio, Director Nelson has made a difference every day.? She is a strong and passionate advocate for those struggling with mental health and substance use disorders and their families.? I am grateful for her dedication and work to help save lives," Governor DeWine said. "I am confident Deputy Director Shadwick will build on Director Nelson?s work to coordinate prevention, interdiction, treatment, and long-term recovery supports for Ohioans impacted by mental health and substance use disorders.?

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As of?*Friday*, there have been 2,151,829 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in Ohio. Additionally, 30,072 confirmed and probable COVID-19 deaths have occurred. A total of 99,170 people have been hospitalized, including 12,007 admissions to intensive care units.

*CASE DATA/VACCINE INFORMATION*

In-depth COVID-19 data for Ohio:?coronavirus.ohio.gov [ [link removed] ].?

Ohio's central scheduling system:?gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov [ [link removed] ]

All vaccine providers:?vaccine.coronavirus.ohio.gov [ [link removed] ]

More vaccine information:?coronavirus.ohio.gov/vaccine [ [link removed] ]

For more information on Ohio's response to COVID-19, visit?coronavirus.ohio.gov [ [link removed] ]?or call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH.

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*MEDIA CONTACT:*
Dan Tierney: 614-644-0957







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