Governor Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine joined Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Director Mary Mertz on Sunday to open two new Storybook Trails in Southwest Ohio state parks on May 27th.  After an official ribbon-cutting ceremony, children and families walked with the Governor and First Lady on the new Storybook Trails at Rocky Fork State Park and Cowan Lake State Park to mark the celebration.

ODNR is offering more communities a path to encourage childhood literacy, a love of nature, and healthy living for families, through a partnership with the Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

“There’s no better place to explore, learn, and grow together than the great outdoors, and we’re excited to provide kids and their families with more opportunities for adventure,” Governor DeWine said. “I think this creates a great experience for everyone who strolls down a Storybook Trail in one of our great state parks.”

Four new Storybook Trails opened this week, which means 15 Storybook Trails are now spread throughout Ohio state parks. Each Storybook Trail features a different book, which is revealed panel by panel on a half-mile trail in a beautiful nature setting.

“We know a child’s brain is 80 percent developed in the first three years, which is why reading at an early age is so very important,” said First Lady DeWine. “We now have 45 percent of Ohio children under the age of 5 enrolled in the Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library, getting free books every single month.  Putting an Imagination Library Book on a park trail makes the learning experience even better.”

On Monday, Governor DeWine was in Cleveland to visit the Cleveland Police Department's Real Time Crime Center (RTCC).

Last month, Governor DeWine awarded Cleveland's RTCC with a Violent Crime Reduction Grant of $355,400 to purchase new technology to enhance operational intelligence, identify wanted suspects, and improve situational awareness for officer and citizen safety.

Also on Monday, Governor DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted announced the approval of assistance for six projects set to create 1,281 new jobs and retain 747 jobs statewide. During its monthly meeting, the Ohio Tax Credit Authority (TCA) reviewed economic development proposals brought to the board by JobsOhio and its regional partners. Collectively, the projects are expected to result in more than $91.7 million in new payroll and spur more than $185 million in investments across Ohio.

Governor DeWine and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announced Tuesday that they have jointly submitted an application requesting nearly $2 billion in federal funding to make much-needed improvements to the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor that runs through Northern Kentucky and the City of Cincinnati.

"The Brent Spence Bridge Corridor is a vital centerpiece to the interstate system of the United States, and we are optimistic that the federal government will recognize the importance of this project for both our national economy and national security," said Governor DeWine. "With the current supply chain crisis in our country, the issue of ensuring that this major transportation corridor stays open and moving has never been more urgent."

“Ohio and Kentucky are working together to seize this once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve the quality of life for the millions of Americans who use the federal highway system to travel between our two states,” said Governor Beshear. “I pledged to fight for every available federal dollar and have a shovel-ready project once funding is secured. The time is now to invest in transformative infrastructure that supports our growing workforce and safe travel along one of the nation’s most important commerce corridors.”

Governors DeWine and Beshear announced their intent to request funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation in February.

Ohio and Kentucky are seeking $1.66 billion in federal grant funding through the Multimodal Projects Discretionary Grant. The grant request represents approximately 60 percent of the remaining $2.77 billion project cost. Each state will also allocate significant state and other federal dollars toward the project. The states will split the cost of the new bridge 50/50, and each state will be responsible for the needed work on its side of the border.

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) recently announced that engineering work on the project will move forward as the federal government considers the application. ODOT and KYTC will also continue to work on acquiring property needed to construct the project and will begin meeting with companies interested in working on this historic bridge project. 

The Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project will construct a critical companion bridge next to the existing Brent Spence Bridge to improve traffic flow and safety. Improvements will also be made to the interstate network on either side of the bridges throughout an eight-mile corridor from the Western Hills Viaduct interchange in Ohio to Dixie Highway in Kentucky. 

Additionally, Lt. Governor Husted traveled to Cincinnati on Tuesday for Clinical Trials and Consulting, Inc.'s (CTI) lab grand opening ceremony. In partnership with Cincinnati Innovation District (CID) partner Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and JobsOhio’s regional affiliate REDI Cincinnati, this new 37,000 square-foot laboratory will house molecular, cellular and bioanalytical testing as well as biorepository and kit building services for clients and create 70 new jobs. 

CTI is one of the 20 largest Clinical Research Organizations (CRO) in the world and employs over 1,000 associates in 65 countries across the globe. The company was named #1 CRO in the world for Operational Excellence at the 2021 CRO Leadership Awards and is a finalist in five categories for the 2022 awards to be given in June.

In accordance with the orders issued by the President of the United States of America and in remembrance of the victims of the shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Governor DeWine ordered on Wednesday that the flags of the United States and the State of Ohio be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings and grounds throughout the State of Ohio until sunset on May 28, 2022.

Lt. Governor Husted traveled to the Workforce Partnership of Shelby County on Wednesday to participate in a roundtable discussion with education and industry professionals and provide remarks at a ceremony for high school juniors and seniors signing with companies.

The Workforce Partnership of Shelby County received a $250,000 Industry Sector Partnership (ISP) “Accelerant” grant in the first round of the ISP grant program to focus on building a workforce pipeline in the construction, manufacturing, healthcare and transportation industries.  

In the afternoon, Lt. Governor Husted toured the Tri Star Career Compact and speak with teachers, administrators, and local stakeholders about their efforts to prepare students for the workforce and the importance of career education.

Tri Star Career Compact is the only compact in Ohio that is not attached to another school. Nine schools in Mercer and Auglaize counties make-up Tri Star's Career Technical district. These nine districts have developed a curriculum of programs for junior and senior students who have an interest in a Career Technical field.

On Thursday, Governor DeWine and Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) Chancellor Randy Gardner named the first group of Ohio colleges and universities designated as Collegiate Purple Star campuses for their efforts to support students with military backgrounds. 

These 33 first-ever Collegiate Purple Star awards advance the work already done by Ohio’s PreK-12 school system to create the Purple Star designation for those schools that worked to become military friendly. Ohio is the first state in the nation to offer these designations. 

“Congratulations to the 33 schools chosen as the first Collegiate Purple Star campuses! Thank you for being examples of Ohio’s proud tradition of honoring our service men and women,” said Governor DeWine. “With these Collegiate Purple Star Award designations, servicemembers, veterans, and military-connected students are able to pursue higher education knowing that their school has the necessary support system and guidance to help them find their next steps.”

“Ohio has a long history of supporting its veterans and servicemembers, and we are now the first state in the nation where you can receive that support from pre-kindergarten all the way through your postsecondary education and beyond,” Chancellor Gardner said. “May is Military Appreciation Month, which reminds us that it’s important to honor our military for all they do. On May 27th, I congratulate these 33 colleges and universities for being the first Collegiate Purple Star campuses.”

Also on Thursday, Governor DeWine  awarded more than $2 million in funding to help local law enforcement agencies combat violent crime and protect their communities. 

Eight law enforcement agencies will receive grants as part of the second round of Governor DeWine’s new Ohio Violent Crime Reduction Grant Program. Funding will primarily be used to recruit, retain, and hire law enforcement officers.

"To protect the public, we need to keep our law enforcement agencies fully staffed," said Governor DeWine. "These grants will help agencies recruit and retain officers to ensure that there are enough law enforcement officers patrolling the streets and preventing crime."

On Thursday evening, Lt. Governor Husted and Second Lady Tina Husted stopped by the City of Gahanna Economic Development event, where they spoke about the impact of Intel in Ohio.

On Friday, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, First Lady Fran DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, and Second Lady Tina Husted on May 27th, honored the men and women who sacrificed their lives in service to their county by joining Gold Star families in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Ohio Statehouse ahead of Memorial Day. 

"Memorial Day is a time to recognize the sacrifices made in conflicts long ago and those that are heartbreakingly recent," said Governor DeWine. "As we lay a wreath as a symbol of our commitment to honor and remember, please say a prayer for peace, a prayer for our fallen heroes, and a prayer for their loved ones."

During the ceremony, Governor DeWine recognized Ohioans Army Sgt. Joseph Collette, Army Pfc. Brandon Kreischer, Navy HM3 Maxton Soviak, and Marine Cpl. Jacob Tate who all died while serving in Afghanistan and had family members present at the ceremony. Also recognized was Army Pfc. Chauncy Sharp, who was killed in action in Korea, and whose remains were recently returned to his family after 72 years.

“Freedom is not free, it has been won and is daily secured and maintained by sacrifice,” said Lt. Governor Husted. “This Memorial Day, let us all be reminded of our brave fallen servicemen and women who have answered the highest call to service; to protect and advance the cause of freedom. May God bless them and their families.”

In recognition of Memorial Day and in honor of the men and women who gave their lives in service to the United States, Governor DeWine ordered on Friday that the flags of the United States and the State of Ohio be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings and grounds throughout the State of Ohio from sunrise until noon on May 30, 2022.

Also on Friday, Governor DeWine outlined Ohio’s next steps for enhancing the safety of Ohio’s students, teachers, and school personnel. 

“We continue to pray for the families who have lost their children; there’s nothing in the world more difficult than losing a child,” said Governor DeWine. “It is important to identify early on someone who is having problems in order to intervene and get them the help they need.  We must do more to strengthen our schools’ physical security, and we must ensure school personnel have the proper training and support to keep themselves and their students safe. While our work continues, I commend Ohio’s school officials, who have worked very hard over the last few years to prepare, prevent, avert, and avoid tragedies.”

The priorities announced on May 27th, will focus on helping school officials evaluate potential threats and develop appropriate responses, as well as improve the physical security of school buildings and campuses. Governor DeWine will also work to further expand Ohio’s behavioral health workforce to increase access to mental health services when and where they are needed and will continue offering ongoing support to Ohio’s law enforcement agencies to prevent violent crime.