U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $2.9 Million to Expand Workforce Development for the Aviation and Construction Industries in Ohio

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is investing $2.9 million in the state of Ohio to support workforce development programs that will grow the aviation and construction industries throughout the region, including Appalachia.

The EDA investments announced today are:

• Western Reserve Port Authority in Youngstown will receive a $2.2 million EDA grant for construction of a new flight school and aviation center. The project will be matched with $2.2 million in local funds and is expected to create or retain 300 jobs and generate $2 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.

• Gallia-Jackson-Vinton Joint Vocational School District in Thurman will receive a $710,718 EDA grant to purchase heavy equipment needed to attract trainees and provide necessary certifications for jobs in the construction industry. The project will be matched with $177,681 in local funds and is expected to create 50 jobs, according to grantee estimates.

“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to ensuring that all communities in Ohio and across the country have the resources they need to grow and thrive,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “These EDA investments will support workforce development programs that will diversify Ohio’s economy by strengthening the state’s critical construction and aviation sectors, and build regional economic resilience for decades to come.”

“The Economic Development Administration plays an important role in supporting locally developed strategies designed to create economic opportunity,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and External Affairs Cristina Killingsworth. “EDA is proud to partner with communities throughout Ohio to create hands-on training opportunities that will grow the state’s talent pool to meet demand for skilled workers. These workers are essential for construction projects throughout the region, as well as pilots and flight mechanics who will support the region’s growing aviation industry.”

“As someone who has long championed policies to strengthen workforce training and close the skills gap, I am proud to see this critical funding to expand workforce development here in Ohio,” said Representative David Joyce (OH-14). “Specifically, the investment in the Western Reserve Port Authority in Youngstown will create jobs, grow the aviation workforce, and spur economic development in my district. I look forward to seeing this funding in action.”

These projects are funded under the Assistance to Coal Communities (ACC) initiative, through which EDA awards funds on a competitive basis to assist communities severely impacted by the declining use of coal. ACC projects support economic diversification, job creation, capital investment, workforce development, and re-employment opportunities.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.