Owens Community College has received a $1.9 million federal stimulus grant through the Lucas County
Workforce Development Agency to provide short-cycle training and job placement in alternate energy
technologies, health care and construction-based industries
The $1.9 million in federal funding is the largest grant or gift ever received in the College’s 44-year
history, according to the college.
The Lucas County Workforce Development Agency designated funding for the grant through the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Workforce Investment Act Title I funds and the 2009 National
Emergency Grant.
The money will be used to fund programs at The Source in downtown Toledo.
According to Dr. Paul Unger, Executive Vice President and Provost of Owens Community College added,
Owens’ downtown Toledo facility has already provided college classes to more than 2,000 and the
short-cycle training and job placement initiative funded by the grant will help the college to build on
those efforts.
As part of the new job training initiative, Owens will provide academic and support services to
unemployed, under employed and dislocated workers within several high growth, high demand occupations.
All educational training will take place within a six-month period or less, and upon program completion,
participants will receive industry recognized certification.
Short-cycle "green collar" training programs will include wind power installation, wind
technician maintenance, solar water heating installation, solar water heating service, geothermal
installation, geothermal service, energy management, hybrid technology, green materials transportation
and photovoltaic installation.
Health care specific programs for students will include the state nurses assistant program, home health
care, pharmacy technician, medical billing and coding, phlebotomy technician, personal trainer and EKG
technician.
Also, Owens will offer short-cycle, pre-apprenticeship programs to trained students as electricians,
pipefitters, boilermakers and other fields within the construction industry.