PERRYSBURG – Penta Career Center will use grant funds to help construct space for a new E-mobility lab.
The career center received a $2,434,062 grant from the State of Ohio to assist the district in constructing an E-mobility lab space for new programs related to training for electrical charging stations, advanced driver assist systems, EV auto maintenance, and energy and power.
The new 8,887-square-foot lab will be able to accommodate 96 students.
The new building will be adjacent to the current auto tech lab, said Superintendent Ed Ewers.
“Each vehicle needs about 1,000 square feet (for students) to work on the sensors,” Ewers said.
If and when electric vehicles have a larger presence in the market, Pena will offer maintenance training, he said.
Ewers said there will be exposure of the E-mobility program to the automotive and firefighter classes.
“We really see this as a base to grow into,” Ewers said.
Penta’s portion of the project is $2,031,479.
Permanent improvement funds will be used, Ewers said.
The state budgeted $200 million as part of its Career Technical Construction Program.
Thirty-five projects received funds for career technical facilities expansion.
As per the grant, the space needs to be completed by Fall 2026.
The district is currently working with Kleinfelder Architecture for master planning services.
Penta also is renovating two spaces, one for existing programs and one to expand programming.
At its Nov. 8 meeting, the board authorized bid documents for the cosmetology labs, which are being remodeled in two phases.
Work in one lab will start after the first of the year with completion in April.
After completion of the first lab, attention will be switched to the second lab, with completion in July.
An alternative lab space will be used while the primary labs are being remodeled. This will allow the work to be completed during the school year with minimal disruption to the students, Ewers said.
“There hasn’t been any significant disruption,” he said.
The estimated cost of the project is $1.4 million.
The center continues its work at 1205 Corporate Dr. in Holland. The 16,000-squre-foot facility will become a space for additional manufacturing, health care and IT programming for both adults and students.
The board approved the design phase for the building, which has been nearly gutted, Ewers said.
The hope is to occupy the facility in September.
The estimate for this most recent work is $2.9 million. The entire project is just over $4 million.
