On Monday, Governor Mike DeWine awarded $3.9 million to 16 local law enforcement agencies to help them strategically combat violence in their communities. 

Governor DeWine announced the third round of his Ohio Violent Crime Reduction Grant Program while visiting Springfield this morning.  The Springfield Police Division is receiving a grant of $305,206.94 to combat crime with new video technology and automatic license plate readers that will be used to quickly gather actionable intelligence to help investigate and solve incidents of gun violence in high-crime areas.

"To keep our communities safe, it's critical that our law enforcement agencies have the right tools to go after the small group of repeat offenders who illegally carry firearms with the sole intent of hurting people," said Governor DeWine. "By providing this support, we're helping our peace officers proactively prevent violence, and we're also helping law enforcement maintain the staffing levels they need to protect our communities."

“Springfield has experienced its best success when those in our community have partnered with neighbors to achieve shared goals,” said Springfield Police Division Chief Lee Graf. “This grant will bolster local law enforcement efforts to maintain safety in our neighborhoods, and bring to justice those who seek to disrupt that peace.”

In total, Governor DeWine will award approximately $58 million as part of the grant program in coming months. To date, the Governor has awarded $9.6 million to 44 Ohio law enforcement agencies to aid in their work to hold accountable the small number of criminals responsible for most violent crime in the state.

Watch video from the press conference here

Also on Monday, Governor DeWine provided an update on what is being done to help Ohio families impacted by the infant formula shortage, including the acceptance of a waiver request that will give families enrolled in Ohio Department of Health’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) more formula options.

“While it is good news that the formula factory that caused the shortage is operating again, it will take weeks for formula to restock, in the meantime we will continue our work to ease the burden on families. There are few things scarier than the thought of not being able to provide food for your children. I feel for  the many families impacted by the formula shortage,” said Governor DeWine. “I am pleased that the USDA has granted our additional waiver requests to allow 8 more WIC-approved products for families enrolled in the program.”

The Ohio WIC Office received USDA approval for the eight additional Mead Johnson products that will be covered beginning June 13. Products include:

Enfamil Infant Powder 29.4oz

Enfamil NeuroPro Infant Powder 28.3oz

Enfamil NeuroPro Infant Powder Box 31.4 oz

Enfamil Gentlease Powder 27.7oz

Enfamil NeuroPro Gentlease Powder 27.4 oz

Enfamil NeuroPro Gentlease Powder Box 30.4 oz

Enfamil AR Powder Box 30.4 oz

Enfamil Prosobee Powder 20.9oz

Watch video from the press conference here

Governor DeWine attended the Ohio Senate Columbus Reunion in the Ohio Statehouse Atrium on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, Governor DeWine was in Grove City where he toured American Nitrile's new advanced manufacturing facility. American Nitrile is a new production company for medical and non-medical latex-free gloves for healthcare, government, and industrial use. The business was launched post-pandemic to bring glove manufacturing into the United States.

Once fully operational, the facility will employ 400 workers to produce approximately 3.6 billion nitrile gloves per year, reducing national reliance on foreign production.

Watch the video of the Governor's visit here

On Wednesday, Governor DeWine spoke at the 2022 Ohio Teacher Leadership Summit. The Summit brings together educators from schools, districts, and organizations who are doing innovative work to develop teacher leaders by sharing successes, lessons learned, and strategies for overcoming challenges.

Also on Wednesday, Governor DeWine gave brief congratulatory remarks at the Official Portrait Unveiling of Former Senate President, Larry Obhof. Artist Paul Wise painted the official portrait which will now hang in the Ohio Statehouse near the Senate Chambers where Obhof spent a decade representing constituents of District 22.

On Thursday, Governor DeWine sent a letter to President Biden saying he is opposed to the Biden Administration's decision to ban new tariffs for two years on solar panels imported from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Socialist Republic of South Vietnam as it will benefit these nations at the expense of U.S. solar panel production.

In the Governor's letter he said that the Biden Administration's decision to ban tariffs for two year will also "have the effect of favoring China at the expense of American solar panel manufacturers who create good-paying jobs for Ohioans and play by the rules such as First Solar in Perrysburg."

First Solar employs more than 2,000 people in the United States and is building its third manufacturing facility in Ohio.

Governor DeWine also said that, "it is imperative that we, as Americans, support and increase our solar energy panel manufacturing capacity in the United States to help build our energy independence and create jobs for Americans." 

Letter to President Biden (PDF)

Lt. Governor Husted, who serves as Director of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation (OWT), announced on Thursday a broadband and 5G-focused Individualized Microcredential Assistance Program (IMAP) round. This is the third round of the initiative, which helps those who are low income, partially unemployed, or totally unemployed participate in a training program and receive a technology-focused credential at no cost. The focus on broadband and 5G credentials is part of a larger effort by OWT and BroadbandOhio to grow the workforce needed to expand broadband access and 5G in Ohio.

Eligible credentials include Fiber Optics, Telecommunications Tower Technician, Fiber to Any Antenna (FTAA), and the 5G Readiness program. Institutions that currently offer these credentials are eligible to apply, as well as institutions that intend to launch a relevant program within six months from July 1st. Training providers who receive awards will be reimbursed up to $3,000 for each completed technology-focused credential issued and up to $250,000 per provider.

“We are working to ensure that everyone can participate in the modern economy, education and healthcare system through broadband access, and to do that, the infrastructure has to be built from the ground up by skilled workers,” said Lt. Governor Husted. “These short-term credentials can be earned quickly and will provide excellent employment opportunities for Ohioans to make an average of $50,000 per year or more.”

“As we expand our broadband and 5G footprint across Ohio, we will need the workers who can make that happen,” said Lydia Mihalik, Director of the Ohio Department of Development, which administers the program. “The focus of this IMAP round will help more Ohioans enter the workforce of the future and put them on the path for success.”

Also on Thursday, Lt. Governor Jon Husted and Second Lady Tina Husted traveled to Mansfield to unveil Mrs. Husted's original painting of Cedar Point's skyline titled, “Cedar Sky,” which will be reproduced on canvases and posters to raise funds for scholarships to North Central State College (NCSC). 

On Friday, Governor DeWine sent a letter to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan asking that the EPA permanently remove restrictions around the sale of 15 percent ethanol (E-15) fuel. 

"E-15 offers Ohio consumers cleaner emissions, more fuel from renewable sources, and, perhaps most critically, a less expensive fuel option,” said Governor DeWine. "By permanently removing unneeded summertime E-15 regulations, we can encourage more Ohio gas stations to offer E-15 and give Ohioans an option that provides real gas price relief.”

Earlier this year, the U.S. EPA issued an emergency waiver for 2022, allowing for the sale of E-15 during the summer months when environmental regulations typically prohibit its use. Governor DeWine is requesting that the summer waiver become permanent beginning in the summer of 2023. 

A copy of Governor DeWine's letter to the Administrator Regan is available at governor.ohio.gov.

Also on Friday, Governor DeWine, First Lady Fran DeWine, and Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Director Mary Mertz announced that Ohio is offering $50,000 in grants for new or improved Storybook Trails throughout the state.

"Storybook Trails offer a unique and active way for families to get outside, learn about nature, and enjoy a good book along the way," said Governor DeWine. "I encourage community leaders to take advantage of this amazing opportunity to provide a new family-friendly outdoor option for their residents.”

Funding for Storybook Trails will be awarded through the Recreational Trails Program. Cities, villages, counties, townships, special districts, state and federal agencies, and nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for individual grants of $5,000 to $10,000. Applicants must own the property and use funding for Storybook Trail construction or maintenance, Storybook trailhead construction or maintenance, or interpretive signage for a Storybook Trail.

“We want to share the impact that our Storybook Trails have had in our state parks with communities all over Ohio,” ODNR Director Mary Mertz said. “These literature-lined paths give children, and their parents, a really fun way to get some fresh air and get active, all while learning about the importance of protecting our natural resources.”

This is the second round of Storybook Trail funding offered by ODNR. Governor DeWine announced the first round of grants in February.