$775,000 to be given for three Ohio initiatives 

Tuesday, August 3, 2010  

by Dan Gearino

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

A series of work-force-training efforts will be announced today, and they are receiving financial backing totaling $775,000 from American Electric Power.

The three initiatives, to be announced at an event in Delaware, are part of the utility’s “Partnership with Ohio,” which the company describes as a $15million commitment running through 2011 that addresses health, hunger and housing for needy Ohioans.

Under the first program, $500,000 will be available to county governments in AEP Ohio’s service territory for use in job-training programs. County commissioners can submit proposals for up to $100,000 each to fund programs training low-income people for jobs in targeted industries. Applicants will be asked to provide matching funds for at least 25 percent of the proposed project’s budget.”

AEP Ohio has established this work-force development program to provide meaningful assistance to Ohioans by preparing them to compete for jobs in this struggling economy,” said Joe Hamrock, AEP Ohio president and chief operating officer, in comments prepared for today’s announcement at Columbus State Community College’s new Delaware campus.

Columbus-based AEP also is providing $225,000 in scholarships for low-income residents to attend community and technical colleges. Prospective applicants can learn more about the scholarships through the admissions offices of the nine participating schools.

In addition, AEP is giving $50,000 to Ohio Women in Sustainable Employment, which offers recruitment and training to women interested in manufacturing, energy and construction jobs.

To qualify for the programs, prospective participants must be at or below 200 percent of the 2009-10 federal poverty guidelines, AEP Ohio said.