Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) visited the Apollo Career Center and met with staff and regional stakeholders to learn more about the educational and career-oriented programs and training Apollo offers. Currently, the Center offers 35 programs of study, serves 6,000 students per year, and issues over 750 licenses and industry credentials each year. Senator Portman received a tour of the Center, where he was able to see their welding labs and a CNC machining lab and meet with students.
Senator Portman discussed his work in Congress to promote career and technical education in Ohio and around the country. His Jumpstart Our Businesses By Supporting Students (JOBS) Act, bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would better support today’s students by making high-quality, shorter-term education and training programs eligible for federal Pell Grants. By expanding Pell Grant eligibility, the JOBS Act would help close the skills gap so workers can afford the job training and credentials that are in demand as industries have shifted as we continue to rebuild from COVID-19.
“Thank you to the Apollo Career Center staff and students for hosting me today – it was great to learn more about the programs offered at Apollo and the great experience their students are receiving to help them find good-paying jobs after graduation,” said Senator Portman. “In Congress, I continue to work to expand access to these high-quality, shorter-term education and training programs through my bipartisan JOBS Act. We’ve got a lot of great job training programs in Ohio, but too many students are finding that the programs they want to take are not covered by the Pell Grant because they are shorter than the 15 week course requirement. The JOBS Act expands Pell Grant eligibility to help students get the job training they need for careers that will help them join the workforce and give them economic security. I am working to move this bill forward in Congress and look forward to getting it signed into law.”
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