Terra State gets new RAPIDS grant for computer software equipment

As Terra State Community College continues its efforts to upgrade its classroom and lab equipment, the college announced this week it has secured more state funding through an Ohio grant program.

The college has been awarded a Regionally Aligned Priorities in Delivering Skills (RAPIDS) grant from the Ohio Department of Education.

The grant, according to a Terra State news release, totals $107,413 and is the fourth round of funding for the college through the RAPIDS grant.

Previous funding was used to purchase programmable logic controller training systems and a collaborative robot and to support a multi-school partnership to provide mobile training trailers.

Andrew Shella, dean of Terra State's technology and skilled trades division, told the News-Messenger Thursday that the state had approved the grant funding, with the money likely being disbursed to Terra State some time this fall.

Shella said the college would likely order and install the equipment by spring, with it being used in Terra State's classrooms by next fall.

The college will be using the funds to purchase a new Haas CNC Lathe and Haas CNC Mini Mill. CNC, or computer numerical control, equipment utilizes computer software to run the equipment and turns raw materials into manufacturing parts.

"They're not an off-the-shelf item. They custom build them to order," Shella said.

Both pieces of equipment will replace older models currently being used and will allow manufacturing technology, mechanical engineering and other skilled trades students to improve their skills on equipment that best reflects what they will use in the workforce, according to the college.

In the college's last round of RAPIDS funding, Terra State secured a $128,400 state grant to purchase 12 new Allen-Bradley Compact Logix training workstations for programmable logic controller (PLC) and electricity students.

Shella said the new equipment purchased with the latest round of RAPIDS funding would allow Terra State to modernize and expand its offerings of CNC-related education in the college's credit and non-credit programs.

He said he expected Terra State to apply for a new round of RAPIDS funding next year.

dacarson@gannett.com

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Twitter: @DanielCarson7