Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced this week that the U.S. Department of Energy has awarded Ohio a $273 million grant to update the state's existing high-voltage electric infrastructure through the Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades (SPARK) initiative.
"Upgrading existing infrastructure makes sense, and this grant opportunity allows us to do that," said Governor DeWine. "Ohio, like much of the country, is facing increasing electricity demand over the next decade. Thank you to the Trump Administration and Secretary Chris Wright for this funding that will help Ohio meet the needs of our businesses and our citizens."
DeWine also announced he is forming a steering group to work on Ohio's application to host the future U.S. Space Academy, after NASA published a Request for Information seeking input from governors interested in sponsoring the academy. Criteria will include infrastructure, partnerships, community support, and support for developing future space leaders.
"A Space Academy is essential to our Nation's preeminence in air and space -- and Ohio is not only the birthplace of aviation – we continue to be on the leading edge of aerospace and defense," said Governor DeWine. "Because of their leadership role in Air and Space and their critical proximity, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Glenn Research Center make Ohio the ideal location for the U.S. Space Academy."
DeWine declared a state of emergency for several Ohio counties impacted by recent severe weather. "We've seen significant flooding and damage across several Ohio counties," he said. "The state is working closely with local officials to provide the resources needed to help communities respond and recover."
On Monday, DeWine, First Lady Fran DeWine, and Ohio Department of Natural Resources Director Mary Mertz opened a new Storybook Trail at East Harbor State Park. The trails, now at 23 Ohio State Parks, span roughly half a mile and feature child-height panels displaying pages from children's books.
"We wanted to capture the joy of reading and the fun of the great outdoors, which is why we started creating these Storybook Trails in 2019," said Governor DeWine.
Lt. Governor Jim Tressel announced the University Hospitals Drusinsky Sports Medicine Institute as an official partner of the Team Tressel Fitness Challenge, which reaches more than 655,000 students across Ohio. Tressel held Challenge assemblies at Norwayne Elementary, Newton Elementary, St. Henry Middle School, and Miller City-New Cleveland Schools.
"Building healthy habits begins with understanding why they matter," said Lt. Governor Tressel. "The experts at University Hospitals are giving our students knowledge they can carry with them long after the Challenge ends."
On Friday, DeWine and the First Lady celebrated Dolly Parton Day at a Kroger in Dublin and at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. The Governor and Lt. Governor issued a proclamation declaring September 25 as Dolly Parton Day in Ohio. Parton, who died in August, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.
"We wanted to do something special to celebrate Dolly Parton's life, and we are grateful to Kroger and its customers for taking this opportunity to support Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Ohio," said First Lady DeWine.
DeWine, Tressel, and ODOT Director Pamela Boratyn also announced $13.5 million to support public workforce transportation in rural and urban Ohio, funding 19 transit projects in 13 counties through the Ohio Workforce Mobility Partnership Program.
"When we connect workers directly to reliable transportation, our entire economy improves," said Governor DeWine.
The state was also awarded a federal Career Pathways Exploration Grant, receiving $3 million per year for three years as one of five awardees nationwide and one of two receiving the maximum amount.