Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology Center Expands to Meet High Demand for Technical Education in Ohio

In Chillicothe, OH, Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology Center marked a significant milestone with the commencement of its expansion project. The groundbreaking ceremony on May 6, 2024, coincided with Ohio’s In-Demand Jobs Week and featured Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted, underscoring the state’s commitment to advancing career-technical education.

The center secured over $7 million to expand its carpentry, construction, robotics, and manufacturing programs, aligning with Ohio’s focus on enhancing vocational education initiatives. Superintendent Jonathan Davis expressed enthusiasm for the expansion project, attributing its realization to the state’s Career Tech expansion grants. The ceremony included speeches from Ohio ACTE Executive Director Dee Smith and Justin Hollandsworth of Acoustic Ceiling and Partition (ACP), who highlighted the positive impact of the center’s programs on the local workforce and economy.

Lieutenant Governor Husted stressed the urgent need for expanded vocational education opportunities, noting the high demand for technical job skills among employers. The expansion initiative aims to accommodate the surge in enrollment and meet the growing interest in career pathways at Pickaway-Ross. With state-of-the-art facilities and programs tailored to industry demands, Pickaway-Ross is poised to meet the educational needs of the community and beyond.