Congressman Bob Latta presented Penta Superintendent Ed Ewers with a flag that has flown over the U.S. Capitol.
PERRYSBURG – Penta Career Center is positioning itself to address regional workforce needs in the growing e-mobility industry.
The center held a groundbreaking ceremony Monday at the construction site of its future e-mobility building on its Buck Road campus.
“This project allows us to address emerging technology, such as the installation and maintenance of our electrical grid, and growing needs for vehicle charging stations,” said Penta Superintendent Ed Ewers.
With the help of a state grant, the school was able to expand its vision to include drone technology, which is embedded in many of our career pathways, he said.
Lt. Governor Jon Husted, who leads the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation, was the keynote speaker.
He praised Penta for its commitment to helping prepare the next generation of young people to work at the job opportunities available in Ohio.
He and Gov. Mike DeWine have been stressing the importance of career tech education, Husted said.
“I just think career tech education is the best valued education. You leave high school career ready with a job, moving into life with a head start,” he said.
After he graduated from high school, the unemployment rate was 8% and his family had to leave the state due to the lack of job opportunities.
“Now if you’re graduating from high school in Ohio, the unemployment rate is around 4% and there are three jobs for every one person looking for a job, and our children don’t need to look beyond the communities in this state for work,” Husted said.
Ohio is the place where people make the things we need to live and thrive, he said.
“The good news is, we have a lot of jobs and a lot of opportunities, but employers are telling us they need talent. They need talent not necessarily with degrees but with skills,” he said.
“They love work-based educational opportunities like are available at our career centers,” he said.
Husted said a high-tech manufacturer was looking for a place to locate, and at a meeting with Ohio officials, the number one question was whether there was a supply of workers with skills that they need.
“Everybody can ultimately provide a site, (but) can you supply the talent with the right kind of work ethic,” Husted said. “We are in the process of proving to them that we can, through our career centers and our community colleges. …”
Congressman Bob Latta presented Ewers with a flag that had flown over the U.S. Capitol as well as a proclamation,
When he visits the manufacturing facilities in his district, he is always told they can’t find people to work.
“They always say another part of it is we need people who are trained with skills to get out there and get the job done,” Latta said.
We need to look at what will help industry in the future hire a successful workforce, he said.
State Rep. Haraz Ghanbari called the event “a spectacular celebration of what the students, staff and faculty will be doing at Penta.”
“Thank you for what you all are embarking on. … There are a lot of opportunities for young folks to get into carer fields and use their hands. Four-year college degree may not be for everyone,” he said.
Penta over the years has played a valuable role in preparing countless people for meaningful and productive roles in our community, Ghanbari read from a proclamation he gave Ewers.
Ryan Lee, Penta’s director of career and technical education, said the main career options for the e-mobility students include construction electricity and automation, plus all the break-and-fix items like when a drone fails to work.
“It’s a compliment to things that already exist and expanding that for students,” he said.
Maggie Hess, executive director for the Ohio Association of Career Technical Superintendents, said Penta is one of several other e-mobility programs in the process of being built in the state.
“I think (e-mobility) is extremely important because technology is evolving at such a rapid pace and the students who have access to this program will be better prepared to move forward and learn the next set of skills they need for work related to e-mobility,” Hess said.
The 15,135-square-foot space will be created with options for instruction in the electrical, mobility and technology fields. Training will focus on careers such as the installation and maintenance of electrical infrastructure, automotive technicians, drone technology and air mobility. It will have three career-technical labs, two flexible classrooms and will be connected to the existing school. Enrollment is anticipated to be 100 students per year.
Penta is using a $2.4 million state workforce transformation grant to partially fund the project. The estimated cost of the building is $8.6 million with the balance funded through Penta’s permanent improvement levy.
When we applied for the grant, we asked business partners for inspiration and support to create something that would be innovative, flexible and would address the current and emerging workforce needs, Ewers said.
Businesses represented on Monday included Turner Electrical Services, Lake Erie Electric, TARTA, AAA, Ohio Career Technical Association, Rudolph Libbe, and Kleinfelder architects.
Construction is expected to begin this fall with expected completion next fall.
“We look forward to the completion of this new building and all of the opportunities that will be available to our student as they prepare to be success ready for careers of the future,” said Penta board President Judith Sanders.
“Career tech is on the rise, Ohio’s economy is on the rise, and we need to make sure our students don’t get left behind,” Husted said.
Wood County Commissioner Doris Herringshaw said the e-mobility program will give students the skills they need to start a job immediately after graduating.
“Penta is a great, great resource and has been for years. It has been a little bit ahead of the curve, in job training and adult training. They always step up a lot sooner than other entities do, so that’s just great for Wood County,” she said.
