SALINEVILLE, Ohio - Three newly renovated buildings for the Utica Shale Academy are officially open. Their more than 100 students in grades 7 through 12 have more space for heavy equipment, welding, industrial maintenance and electrical robotics training. 

The academy aims to teach local kids skills at a younger age and encourages them to fill Ohio jobs. 

“There’s great things here. You can raise a family here and that's really what we tell our kids is you don't have to leave,” William Watson, Superintendent of the Utica Shale Academy said.  “There's good jobs. We want you to be here because we love you here.”

After graduation, students are connected with opportunities in several fields including the oil and gas industry. 

“The oil and gas industry in Ohio isn't just surviving, it’s thriving,” Mike Chadsey, the Director of External Affairs of the Ohio Oil & Gas Association, said. “Natural gas and crude oil can be refined into 6,000 products as well as power our economy and so our message to students that are considering this program or that are here today is that you have a bright future in this industry.”

Superintendent Watson said as enrollment continues to grow they’ll offer more programs and are even thinking about training for new technologies.

“We applied for an EV grant … so we have the thoughts and the vision. It's just now we have to make sure we write a good application and secure the funding,” Watson said. 

The academy was able to renovate the buildings after receiving a $2.65 million grant from Governor Mike DeWine and donations from the Williams family. The Williams Collaboration Center and the Energy Center are both located on E. Main Street in Salineville. The third building for the academy is located in Salem.