Findlay Times

Lt. Gov. Jon Husted recently delivered a keynote speech at the groundbreaking ceremony for a $3.5 million expansion at the Millstream Career Center in Findlay, highlighting Ohio's commitment to career-focused education. This initiative is part of Husted's broader efforts to address workforce needs and prepare students for in-demand jobs across the state.

According to The Courier, Husted recently delivered a keynote speech at the groundbreaking ceremony for a $3.5 million expansion at the Millstream Career Center in Findlay. In his speech, he highlighted the importance of career-focused education in meeting Ohio's workforce needs. 

“You can't do 'Made in America' without 'Made in Ohio'. We are at the heart of it all,” Husted said. “All of the ingredients that go into 'Made in America' are right here in Ohio.”

The new facility, set to open for the 2025-26 school year, will house an expanded Engineering and Robotics program and a new Manufacturing and Industrial Robotics program, addressing capacity issues and preparing more students for in-demand jobs in the state.

This expansion is part of a broader effort across Ohio to invest in career technical education, with $300 million allocated statewide through the Career Technical Construction Program. The goal is to improve educational facilities and resources to better prepare students for the workforce. 

In addition to the Millstream Career Center expansion, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted recently announced the groundbreaking of a new 66,000-square-foot Impact Lab at the Transportation Research Center (TRC) in East Liberty. This facility, supported by a $24 million state grant, will enhance the state's vehicle testing capabilities, particularly for electric and autonomous vehicles, with cutting-edge technology like robotic cameras and sensors.

Husted emphasized the lab's role in keeping Ohio at the forefront of automotive innovation and safety standards, noting its importance in maintaining the TRC’s status as a federally approved testing site. The Impact Lab is expected to be completed within three years.

In early October, Husted participated in a Manufacturing Appreciation Luncheon in Guernsey County, where he highlighted the crucial role of robotics, automation, and advanced sensors in enhancing Ohio's manufacturing output. The event, hosted by the Cambridge-Guernsey County Improvement Corporation for Manufacturing Month, emphasized the state's $114 billion manufacturing sector, which ranks third nationally. Husted also visited Noble County, where he toured the new $4.8 million Caldwell East of I-77 Business Park, a development designed to attract light manufacturing and logistics projects.

According to his official bio page, Jon Husted was adopted and raised in Northwest Ohio's Williams County. He grew up with a strong foundation in faith, family, and hard work. After excelling as an All-American defensive back and earning advanced degrees from the University of Dayton, Husted contributed to economic development as vice president at the Dayton-Area Chamber of Commerce.                        

Husted's tenure as Secretary of State was marked by significant improvements in business processes, including reducing start-up costs and eliminating office fees, saving taxpayers millions. As House Speaker, he championed Ohio’s most conservative budget in decades with a historic income tax cut. Elected Lt. Governor in 2018, Husted continues to balance his public service with his roles as a husband to his wife Tina and father to their three children.