BRYAN, OH -- Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jim Tressel took part in a groundbreaking ceremony on March 31st, to celebrate the beginning of construction on an all-new career technical center at Bryan Middle/High School in Williams County.

Supported by a $2.5 million Career Technical Education Equipment Grant from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW), the center marks the latest success story in the administration’s work to expand access to career technical education so more Ohio students can develop the skills they need to land a great job after graduation.

“Our career tech centers offer so much value to our communities. They help train and develop our young people with the skills they need to land the many in-demand jobs available in Ohio,” said Governor DeWine. “This new center here at Bryan Middle/High School will give students their choice of technical instruction, and we are confident that this instruction will position them for success in Ohio’s job market.”

Watch Full Ceremony (via Facebook)

Thanks to the state’s targeted work to attract economic development projects into local communities, Ohio has added more than 81,000 private sector jobs under Governor DeWine’s leadership, and another 15,000 jobs are coming to Ohio through projects that are currently in development.

To ensure Ohio’s next generation of job-seekers are prepared to seize this historic opportunity, Governor DeWine announced in his State of the State Address earlier this month that Lt. Governor Tressel would lead the administration’s effort to create Ohio’s Workforce Playbook – a plan developed in consultation with education, business, and community leaders to identify regional workforce needs and to create pathways for students to get the training and the education they need to fill in-demand jobs in their area.

“This new building we are breaking ground on on March 31st, aligns perfectly with the goals of Ohio’s Workforce Playbook. It will allow students from Bryan to take career tech classes right here on their home turf, and it will create the opportunity for more students to learn on the equipment that our businesses are using right now,” said Lt. Governor Tressel “We are investing in our students’ future, and this new space will benefit generations to come.”

The new facility will allow Bryan City Schools (BCS) to increase their emphasis on the vocational arts. The career technical center, which will be directly connected to the Middle/High School, will offer classes that teach the foundational skills of design and production with woods and metals. It will also offer courses in engineering, precision machining, computer aided design (CAD), electrical, plumbing, and robotics.

The addition of a new weight room facility will allow for the school to offer space for student-athletes to train, while simultaneously offering daily strength and conditioning classes for students.

“I know the Lt. Governor is excited about the new gymnasium component of this project, as well, since it corresponds with his interest in encouraging physical fitness in Ohio,” said Governor DeWine.

“This new space for physical education programs, athletics events, and community events will provide a place where students can grow, challenge themselves, and build lifelong memories,” said Lt. Governor Tressel. “These expansions will all help more kids in this community thrive in school and all throughout their lives.”