Tolles Career & Technical Center landed a $320,000 state grant to create a new manufacturing training program, adding workforce capacity as the Plain City campus wraps up a $30 million expansion that will serve Dublin-area students and adult learners.

The Career-Technical Education Access Grant, announced July 28 by Governor Mike DeWine, is part of $3.2 million the state awarded to 10 career-technical centers statewide. The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce's awardee list classifies the Tolles program as a new adult training program through its Ohio Technical Center, with the Central Ohio Manufacturers' Partnership as the industry partner.

The money will fund curriculum development, equipment, staffing, employer partnerships, and paid work-based learning as Tolles builds the program during the 2026-2027 school year. The first cohort is expected to start in the 2027-2028 school year.

Tolles serves students from seven partner districts, including Dublin City Schools, and already offers adult education in healthcare, public safety, and advanced manufacturing. The new program will use the Ohio Manufacturers' Association's WorkAdvance model, which pairs employer-designed curricula with career coaching and job placement support.

"This investment comes at an exciting time for Tolles. As our enrollment continues to reach new heights and our campus expansion moves toward completion, we're focused on creating even more opportunities for students to develop the skills today's employers need," Superintendent and CEO Dr. Todd F. Hoadley said in a Dublin Chamber of Commerce announcement.

Ohio's manufacturing sector employs more than 680,000 people and accounts for 17.5% of the state's GDP, with an estimated 35,000-plus annual job openings for operators and technicians projected through 2037, according to the governor's office.

The grant arrives during a growth surge at Tolles. The school said it expects enrollment to reach approximately 1,500 students this fall, the largest incoming class in its history. The campus expansion, on track for completion in December 2026, will add nearly 50,000 square feet of instructional space. In June, Tolles also received $400,000 through Ohio's 2026 Capital Budget for a Fire & EMS Training Facility on campus.

Ryan Augsburger, president of the Ohio Manufacturers' Association, said in the state's announcement that the grant program builds on the momentum of Ohio's Industry Sector Partnerships and advances the association's Ohio Manufacturing Workforce Blueprint to align education with industry demand.

Tolles has not announced enrollment dates or application details for the new manufacturing program. The planning phase begins this fall.