** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** RHODES STATE COLLEGE'S (RSC) GOAL WITH THIS GRANT IS TO CATALYZE THE EXPANSION OF EMBEDDING INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED CREDENTIALS WITHIN THE TWO-YEAR ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY AND REACH INTO THE AREA HIGH SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES TO OFFER CREDENTIAL TRAINING TO UPSKILL THE CURRENT AND FUTURE AGRICULTURE WORKFORCE OF NORTHWEST OHIO. TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE THE CURRICULUM, RSC WILL CONTINUE OFFERING A FANUC CERTIFICATION COURSE AND WILL EMBED FOUR ADDITIONAL CREDENTIALS INTO THE ASSOCIATE DEGREE: OHIO AGRICULTURE COMMODITY TESTER, COMMERCIAL PESTICIDE APPLICATOR LICENSE, PART 107 REMOTE PILOT CERTIFICATION, AND BASF PLANT SCIENCE CERTIFICATION. THE ABOVE CREDENTIALS WERE DESIGNATED AS TOP PRIORITIES BY THE RSC AGRICULTURE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. RSC WILL ALSO SEEK NEW PARTNERSHIPS WITH AREA HIGH SCHOOLS TO CREDENTIAL STUDENTS TO EARN THE CREDENTIALS AND ENTER THE WORKFORCE UPON GRADUATION. RSC WILL SUPPORT THESE COURSES BY BRINGING THE MOBILE LABORATORY TO THE HIGH SCHOOLS FOR HANDS-ON TRAINING. ADDITIONALLY, RSC WILL CONDUCT TRAINING MODULES FOR THE COMMUNITY TO EARN INDUSTRY CREDENTIALS IN AGRICULTURE. THE INNOVATIVE APPROACH OF THE PROGRAM IS THREE-FOLD: IT EMBEDS ADDITIONAL INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED CREDENTIALS, NEEDED BY REGIONAL EMPLOYERS, IN THE ASSOCIATE DEGREE CURRICULUM; SUPPORTS AGRICULTURE CREDENTIAL TRAINING FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO EARN THESE NEEDED WORKFORCE CREDENTIALS; AND BRINGS AGRICULTURE CREDENTIALING DIRECTLY TO PARTICIPANTS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES. ALL PARTICIPANTS CAN BE TRAINED AND TAKE THE CREDENTIAL EXAMS AT NO COST.