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Years ago, a few politicians and elected officials began to understand it was irresponsible to ignore the downturn in the coal industry. Though acknowledging it at the time drew significant pushback from those clinging to bygone days, today we welcome the support of those in state and federal government who are rooted enough in reality to be looking for ways to support individuals and communities affected by that downturn.
This week, the Governor's Office of Appalachia, along with the Ohio Department of Development, announced more than $6 million in funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission to be used for five projects that address coal-related job loss in our communities.
Washington State College of Ohio will receive $100,000 of that to develop a regional K-12-to-career pathway strategy for southeast Ohio. The college will work with school districts, career centers, community partners and industry leaders.
Other projects include Access Tusc, in Tuscarawas County, which will receive a $2 million grant to support its REACH – The Aging Workforce project; Shawnee State University, in Scioto County, which will receive $2 million to expand its industrial chemistry program; Youngstown State University in Mahoning County, which will receive a $1.5 million grant to create a Connected Infrastructure Lab at the YSU Excellence Training Center, and the City of Niles in Trumbull County, which will receive a $402,500 grant to construct a new electrical infrastructure and upgrade distribution capacity to support local industry expansion.
“These investments will connect more people in Ohio’s great Appalachian region with essential training and good careers, while helping our employers build the roster they need to compete on a global scale,” Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel said.
These projects represent a broad range of ways in which communities and institutions of higher learning are trying to support Ohioans through a transition too many pretended they didn't see coming. This kind of work could have begun decades ago.
Now that it has, federal and state agencies must not lose momentum.