WEEK IN REVIEW
Friday, January 14, 2022

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine Week in Review

For the week ending January?14, 2022

On Tuesday,?Lt. Governor Jon Husted, who serves as Director of the Governor?s Office of Workforce Transformation (OWT), announced that The Ohio State University (OSU) will receive $3 million to design curriculum for Ohio?s Broadband and 5G Sector Partnership in an effort to develop a skilled broadband workforce. Once developed, the curriculum will be available to all higher education institutions in Ohio to implement. This announcement is part of a larger effort by OWT and BroadbandOhio to grow the workforce needed to expand broadband access and 5G in Ohio.

The ?Strengthening Ohio?s Broadband & 5G Workforce? Strategy, released in September 2021, calls for a Broadband and 5G Sector Partnership that will lead the implementation of the goals outlined in the strategy.?As the host institution, OSU will identify a nonprofit telecommunications industry partner that will lead the effort. The Sector Partnership will work to design and distribute curriculum and training programs across the state and promote career awareness to supply the industry with a skilled workforce.

?The Ohio State University is the right institution to host Ohio?s Broadband and 5G Sector Partnership because?of their involvement in this work and strong support from the business and education communities,? said Lt. Governor Husted. ?This Sector Partnership will give the telecommunications industry a chance to work alongside training providers to develop curriculum that will be available for any Ohio institution. This will better prepare job seekers to enter the workforce with the skills and credentials that will help both individuals and businesses succeed.?

Also on?Tuesday, as a part of Governor Mike DeWine?s?H2Ohio?initiative, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) will help restore habitat and improve water quality along the?Chagrin River, a state-designated scenic river, in Lake County. ODNR has awarded a $2.2 million grant to the Chagrin River Watershed Partners to restore wetlands and strengthen riverbanks five miles from Lake Erie. ?Providing access to clean water is the ultimate goal of H2Ohio, and this project will contribute to better water quality in the central Lake Erie Basin,? said Governor DeWine. ??The Chagrin Scenic River is one of northeast Ohio?s beloved natural resources, and we?re proud to work with local partners to help ensure that the river is preserved for generations to come.? The Chagrin River and East Branch Corridor Restoration and Protection Project will restore nearly 1,400 linear feet of river, protect 7,000 linear feet of streams, and enhance 78.4 acres of riparian lands. ?It will stabilize eroding streambanks using riparian buffers, or lines of vegetation, to filter nutrients before they flow downstream toward Lake Erie. An oxbow wetland will be created to store excess water that might otherwise lead to flooding, filter water to improve water quality, and provide habitat to a variety of wildlife. "We are thrilled to work with such great partners and expand the reach of the H2Ohio initiative,? ODNR Director Mary Mertz said. ?Each project, no matter how big or small, contributes to a better future for Ohioans and ensures future generations will have access to clean water.?

Last week, Governor DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine visited members of the Ohio National Guard at Defense Supply Center in Columbus.

Additionally, on Tuesday, Governor DeWine announced additional Guard deployments to support COVID-19 testing locations across the state, including three testing locations in Cincinnati.

?We are grateful that National Guard members are continuing to fill critical roles in our state's response to this pandemic, especially as the strain on our health care providers continues,? said Governor DeWine. ?As cases increase across the state, the best thing Ohioans can do is to stay up to date on their COVID-19 vaccine.?

The National Guard is now supporting 12 testing locations across the state as part of ongoing efforts to ease some of the burden on the state?s hardest-hit hospitals as Ohio is experiencing the highest number of COVID-19 driven inpatient hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and patients on ventilators seen throughout the pandemic. On Tuesday, the Ohio Hospital Association reported 6,727 inpatient hospitalizations.

On Wednesday,?Governor DeWine issued a statement following the decision in?League of Women Voters of Ohio v. Ohio Redistricting Commission:

?Throughout this process, I expected that Ohio?s legislative maps would be litigated and that the Ohio Supreme Court would make a decision on their constitutionality. I will work with my fellow Redistricting Commission members on revised maps that are consistent with the Court?s order.?

Lt. Governor Jon Husted speaks at Wright State for the Dayton Business Journal Economic Forum about the importance of on-shoring products and creating a culture of innovation that generates more investments and home-grown businesses.

On Thursday,?Lt. Governor Husted traveled to?Wright State University to provide the keynote address at the?Dayton Business Journal?s 2022 Economic Forum where he discussed the state's workforce development efforts and economic outlook going into the new year.

In accordance with the orders issued by the President of the United States of America and in honor of the late Harry Reid, Governor DeWine has ordered that flags of the United States and the State of Ohio be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings and grounds throughout the State of Ohio. Flags shall remain lowered until sunset on Thursday, January 13, 2022.

Governor DeWine announced on Thursday that?the Ohio National Guard will support additional COVID-19 testing locations in Gallipolis, Toledo, and Mansfield, bringing the total number of Guard-supported testing locations to 15.

This additional assistance is part of continued efforts to ease some of the burden on the state?s hardest-hit hospitals as COVID-19 case rates surge, driving hospitalizations and ICU admissions this month to their highest levels throughout the pandemic. On Wednesday, the?Ohio Hospital Association?reported 6,637 COVID-19 inpatient hospitalizations.

The total deployment of National Guard members working with Ohio?s healthcare systems is now at about 2,300 members. This includes approximately 200 Guard members offering medical support, and approximately 2,100 offering general support, including testing, food services, in-hospital patient transportation, administrative tasks, and more. Approximately 350 Guard members are supporting testing. (Note that not all Guard members who have been deployed are on site yet.)

Also on Thursday,?Governor DeWine issued a statement following the decision in?Ohio, et al. v. Department of Labor, OSHA, et al.:

?I am pleased by today?s U.S. Supreme Court decision. Government should neither prevent employers from enacting safety protocols, nor should it require employers to mandate vaccine decisions. Today?s decision is consistent with these principles.?

As of?Friday, there have been 2,307,691 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in Ohio. Additionally, 30,922 confirmed and probable COVID-19 deaths have occurred. A total of 101,659 people have been hospitalized, including 12,227 admissions to intensive care units.

CASE DATA/VACCINE INFORMATION

In-depth COVID-19 data for Ohio:?coronavirus.ohio.gov.?

Ohio's central scheduling system:?gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov

All vaccine providers:?vaccine.coronavirus.ohio.gov

More vaccine information:?coronavirus.ohio.gov/vaccine

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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MEDIA CONTACT:
Dan Tierney: 614-644-0957