Ohio has been awarded two federal grants for nearly $10 million to help grow and maintain the building of its electric vehicle manufacturing workforce.

The first  $5 million grant will provide training and credentialing opportunities for 700 individuals in 18 counties in northeast Ohio. The second grant of nearly $5 million, will provide training and credentialing opportunities for 550 unemployed and underemployed Ohioans in western and central Ohio.

In June, Ohio released its Electric Vehicle Workforce Strategy with input from more than 70 industry stakeholders, workforce representatives, and education partners to provide a roadmap for filling an anticipated 25,000-plus new electric vehicle manufacturing jobs by 2030.

The goals included:

  • Establishing a statewide EV industry sector partnership with regional implementation
  • Driving EV industry desirability and career awareness
  • Broadening the EV workforce talent pool

"Ohio continues to lead in the advanced manufacturing economy by investing in our greatest asset, our people," said Governor Mike DeWine. "As electric vehicles continue to gain in popularity, supporting training programs ensures that Ohio workers are ready to support the next generation of manufacturing."

The northeast Ohio project, known as "Charged Up," ODJFS will partner with the Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network, the Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition, to help train providers to prepare workers in battery production facilities.

According to the release, The Governor's Office of Workforce Transformation has also committed an additional $1.5 million in matching funds to support and sustain these efforts.