(Photo by Gwen Sour) From left, U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, tours the facilities at Washington State College of Ohio Monday alongside the college’s President Sarah Parker and Vice President of Academic Affairs Jona Rinard Monday afternoon.

U.S. Sen. Jon Husted visited Washington State College of Ohio on Monday to promote a recent federal change allowing Pell Grants to be used for workforce credentials, a move he says will open new career pathways for students without the burden of traditional college debt.

Previously, Pell Grants — federal funds for low-income students — could only be applied toward degree programs. The change, included in recent federal legislation, now permits their use for short-term training programs that lead directly to in-demand jobs.

“We have employers all over the state, certainly here in Southeast Ohio, who need CNC machinists, auto technicians and diesel mechanics,” said Husted, R-Ohio, during a tour of the college’s technical training facilities. “Now you can use Pell Grants to pay for all of those kinds of programs … and go right to work.”

Husted said the change could be especially impactful in economically disadvantaged regions, where the cost of higher education can be a barrier.

“You can earn a credential, have it paid for completely with the Pell Grant and go directly to work,” he said. “These employers will hire you, even with just one credential earned.”

(Photo by Gwen Sour) From left, Washington State College of Ohio’s Director of Engineering and Business Jared Voldness discusses machinery’s capabilities with U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, on Monday at the college.

Washington State President Sarah Parker said the school is ready to implement the change.

“The workforce Pell is going to do quite a tremendous amount of closing that gap between workforce training and for-credit courses,” Parker said. “We’re poised to begin to administer the workforce Pell as soon as we get the green light.”

Husted also addressed the recent closure of a paper plant in Chillicothe. He said the state must now focus on helping displaced workers find new opportunities, connecting them with training and credentials that match employer needs.

“We’re not going to let it get us down,” Husted said. “We’re going to fight back, recruit new businesses to the site and the surrounding area, and make sure people have the skills to land good-paying jobs.

“Ohio is the heart of American manufacturing,” Husted said. “We’re going to continue to see new kinds of investments and job creation, but we have to have people with the right kinds of skills.”

(Photo by Gwen Sour) U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, tests a collaborative robot at Washington State College of Ohio during a tour on Monday.