Ohio Launches $1.76 Million Statewide Initiative to Connect Students with In-Demand Manufacturing Careers
In a significant step to address Ohio’s growing workforce needs in the manufacturing sector, Battelle has officially announced the launch of the Manufacturing Pathways Pilot, a groundbreaking program aimed at building robust career pathways in advanced manufacturing for students across public school districts in Ohio. This new initiative, developed in partnership with the Ohio STEM Learning Network and supported by funding from the Walton Family Foundation, is designed to prepare the next generation of skilled workers to meet the rising demand for high-tech manufacturing jobs in the Buckeye State.
With a total of $1.76 million awarded in grant funding, the program will support 10 innovative educational projects across 21 school districts throughout Ohio. These projects are focused on building or expanding manufacturing, engineering, and science technologies programs at the high school level—programs that integrate hands-on, real-world learning with direct pathways to postsecondary education and employment in Ohio’s booming manufacturing sector.
Strategic Response to Ohio’s Workforce Gap
Ohio’s manufacturing landscape is undergoing a major transformation, fueled by large-scale investments from global powerhouses such as Intel, Honda and LG Energy Solution, Ford, and SEMCORP. These developments, many of which involve advanced and high-tech manufacturing capabilities, have introduced a new level of urgency for workforce development efforts across the state. Employers are currently facing a shortfall of over 30,000 technicians per year—a figure that is expected to grow as new manufacturing facilities come online.
The Manufacturing Pathways Pilot is a direct response to this challenge. It is a joint effort by Battelle and the Ohio Department of Education & Workforce, operating under the umbrella of the Ohio STEM Learning Network (OSLN). The program takes a comprehensive and cross-sector approach to building sustainable career pathways—bringing together K–12 school systems, community colleges, four-year universities, and industry partners to create education-to-employment pipelines tailored to the needs of local economies.
According to Kelly Gaier Evans, Director of the Ohio STEM Learning Network at Battelle, “This program is more than just about preparing students for jobs. It’s about transforming the high school experience, aligning education with industry needs, and ensuring students leave school with credentials, experiences, and confidence to succeed in their chosen careers.”
Empowering Students with Opportunities in High-Tech Manufacturing
For students, the pilot program opens the door to exciting, high-wage, high-demand careers that offer long-term stability and advancement. Manufacturing today is not what it once was—today’s shop floors are equipped with cutting-edge technologies such as robotics, additive manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and advanced materials. These innovations require a new generation of skilled technicians, engineers, and operations specialists with technical expertise and practical experience.
Students across participating districts will have the opportunity to enroll in new or expanded career and technical education (CTE) pathways that blend academic rigor with applied learning. These programs emphasize experiential learning, industry credentials, and work-based opportunities such as internships, apprenticeships, and mentorships. They also introduce students to emerging fields like mechatronics, precision machining, clean energy systems, and automation.
At Tri-State STEM+M Early College High School in South Point, Ohio, students are already feeling the momentum. An 11th-grade student reflected, “I think this program is important for our school and the whole Appalachian region because it will help students see the opportunities for high-paying jobs in manufacturing, which is a prominent industry in Ohio and West Virginia.” Another student added, “I’m excited about the idea of being on the cutting edge of a growing industry in the United States.”
By encouraging students to explore pathways traditionally underrepresented in K–12 education, the program is helping to redefine perceptions of manufacturing and expand access to opportunities that can reshape entire communities.
Collaborative Innovation: Schools, Colleges, and Industry Unite
Each of the 10 funded projects involves collaboration between local school districts and postsecondary institutions, as well as partnerships with industry leaders who play a central role in shaping curriculum and offering hands-on learning opportunities. The goal is to ensure that educational programming is aligned with real-world labor market demands and that students graduate ready to meet the expectations of today’s employers.
One such collaboration is taking place between Berkshire Local Schools in Geauga County and Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio. This partnership is focused on preparing students for careers in manufacturing, environmental systems, and agriculture—three sectors where Ohio has demonstrated significant economic potential.
Dr. Jonathan Tedesco, Dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at Lake Erie College, emphasized the importance of this collaboration: “Education and career preparation go hand-in-hand, so we are always excited to support our regional partners in providing career pathways for students that will ultimately help elevate our communities and region while meeting the growing employment demands across our state.”
In addition to academic instruction, these programs offer exposure to real-world manufacturing environments through lab-based learning, employer site visits, project-based challenges, and co-developed curriculum components. These experiences not only deepen student engagement but also enhance their technical competencies and workplace readiness.
A Learning Network of Educators and Experts
To strengthen the impact of the pilot and ensure high-quality implementation across the board, Battelle has established a professional learning community—a “community of practice”—that brings together educators and administrators from each of the funded sites. This collaborative space is designed to support cross-district knowledge sharing, solve implementation challenges, and amplify promising practices that can be scaled across the state.
In parallel, Battelle is providing technical assistance to each project team. This includes support in key areas such as program marketing, student and parent outreach, employer engagement, and the development of robust recruitment pipelines. This wraparound support model ensures that the pathway programs are sustainable, scalable, and accessible to a wide range of students, including those from underrepresented and rural communities.
The impact of the program will be monitored through a series of performance metrics, including student enrollment in pathway programs, credential attainment, academic persistence, and post-graduation employment in manufacturing-related fields. These insights will inform the design of future state-level initiatives and provide a data-driven framework for scaling successful models.
Grant Recipients Leading the Way
The Manufacturing Pathways Pilot grants were awarded to organizations across 10 regions of Ohio, each representing a unique set of economic, educational, and industrial contexts. The 10 grant recipients are:
- Allen County Educational Service Center (Allen County) – Expanding regional coordination of manufacturing pathway programs and engaging local employers to offer career-connected experiences.
- Berkshire Local School District (Geauga County) – Partnering with Lake Erie College to deliver interdisciplinary programming in manufacturing, agriculture, and environmental systems.
- Columbus City Schools (Franklin County) – Launching new advanced manufacturing labs and career exploration programs in partnership with central Ohio industries.
- Cincinnati Public Schools (Hamilton County) – Expanding access to mechatronics and robotics training programs aligned with local employer needs.
- Dayton Regional STEM School (Montgomery County) – Integrating manufacturing-focused design thinking into STEM curriculum and increasing dual enrollment opportunities.
- Fredericktown Local School District (Knox County) – Building rural pathways into automation and advanced manufacturing systems with support from industry mentors.
- Greene County Career Center (Greene County) – Enhancing precision machining and engineering tech programs with new employer-led apprenticeships.
- Maysville Local Schools (Muskingum County) – Implementing cross-curricular projects that link traditional academics with modern manufacturing practices.
- Tri-State STEM+M Early College High School (Lawrence County) – Providing early college and industry credential opportunities in an Appalachian community.
- Washington County Joint Vocational School District (Washington County) – Developing a full pipeline from career exploration in middle school to postsecondary workforce readiness in high school.
These diverse projects collectively represent a transformative step forward for education in Ohio, offering a blueprint for how states can build stronger connections between their schools and industries.
The Manufacturing Pathways Pilot program runs through July 30, 2026, with continuous performance tracking and evaluation throughout the grant period. As a pilot, this initiative is intended to be a model for future investments in career and technical education, especially in sectors critical to Ohio’s economic future.
Battelle and the Ohio STEM Learning Network hope that the lessons learned from this first cohort will inform state policy, guide funding strategies, and catalyze the development of a broader ecosystem of education-industry partnerships that can scale across the Midwest and beyond.
“Ohio is at a turning point,” said a spokesperson for Battelle. “With the right investments in our young people—especially in STEM and manufacturing—we can shape a future that is inclusive, innovative, and economically resilient.”
As Ohio’s high-tech manufacturing sector continues to evolve, the Manufacturing Pathways Pilot serves as both a strategic workforce initiative and a bold reimagining of what high school can be: a launchpad for economic mobility, industry leadership, and lifelong opportunity.
