CLEVELAND — Gov. Mike DeWine made a stop in Cleveland on Tuesday to check out Cuyahoga Community College’s Manufacturing Technology Center of Excellence (MTC).

Tri-C says its manufacturing programs have been developed in conjunction with industry professionals, aiming to give graduates the skills to immediately enter the workforce. MTC is on the front lines developing a workforce ready to support the projected 2 million manufacturing jobs that will go unfilled due to a growing skills gap over the next decade.

“If you look at the challenges we have in Ohio and across the nation, the biggest challenge is finding workers who have the skill sets, who can do particular jobs. What we’re seeing here (Tri-C) is all of that coming together,” said DeWine.

Training programs at MTC range from 32-hour workshops to 500-hour programs in which students can earn industry-recognized credentials and certifications. Students may also be able to participate in apprenticeships with leading manufacturing companies.

During a stop in Cleveland in May, President Joe Biden also toured the MTC as he promoted his infrastructure package. 

One topic that did not come up when Gov. DeWine took questions was the state’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week, DeWine announced the details of what he is deeming Ohio’s “Vax to School” program in which vaccinated Ohioans between the ages of 12 and 25-years-old will be eligible for scholarship drawings, including five $100,000 scholarships. In addition to the five $100,000 scholarships, the state will also hold 50 drawings for $10,000 scholarships for the same age group.

“Vaccinations remain our ticket out of this pandemics. Vaccinations are the way that we keep our hospitals from being overcrowded,” DeWine said, noting the lower vaccination rates among younger Ohioans. “They remain [available].”

You can watch Gov. DeWine’s tour of the MTC in the player below: