The Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) has announced its latest round of Regionally Aligned Priorities in Delivery Skills (RAPIDS) awards.

Students at Lakeland will be able to enhance their education and job preparedness in several fields thanks to funding approved by the state controlling board to purchase state-of-the-art equipment. Other schools that also received funding include Kent State University, Stark State College, The University of Akron and Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED).

Through partnerships with area businesses and higher education stakeholders, each of the five campuses was able to secure $143,333 in funding. Governor John Kasich and the legislature targeted $8 million in the state capital budget to assist Ohio's public universities, community colleges, and career technical centers in providing the most up-to-date education possible in an effort to provide a skilled workforce for in-demand jobs.

The latest round of funding, which totals $5.3 million, will allow for the purchase of equipment in fields such as information technology, advanced manufacturing and additive manufacturing.

This is the third round of RAPIDS grants that Lakeland has been awarded in recent years. Funds may only be used for capital purchases and must be connected to regional workforce education and skill development. Lakeland requested funding to go toward the purchase of additional equipment to be used in HIVE.

By: Jessica Novak