Sen. Brown Announces $650,000 to Bolster Public Health Workforce at the Ohio State University

Funds Will Support Public Health Training Center at OSU College of Public Health in Columbus

WASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced today The Ohio State University was awarded $650,000 to bolster the health workforce training efforts at the College of Public Health. The Affordable Care Act funds, distributed through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will bolster OSU's public health training center.

"These funds will help address our nation's shortage of health care professionals while generating economic activity in Ohio," Brown said. "This investment will enhance OSU's ability to attract talented health care professionals to meet our state's needs."

The College of Public Health at OSU is Ohio's first and only accredited college of public health. It is also home to the Ohio Center for Public Health Preparedness, one of only 40 in the nation.

Brown recently introduced the Strengthening Employment Clusters to Organize Regional Success (SECTORS) Act, which already passed the House of Representatives. This bill is aimed at creating jobs in high-growth, regional industries - like public health in Central Ohio - by addressing the disparity between high unemployment rates and a shortage of skilled workers for many emerging industries. Despite Ohio's 10.5 percent unemployment rate, there is still demand in today's labor market for skilled workers. To address this disparity, the SECTORS Act provides grants for sector partnerships among institutions of higher education, industry, organized labor, and workforce boards.

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