CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — The Pickaway Ross Career and Technology Center in Chillicothe is set to receive a grant of $72,280 as part of a $2.5 million funding initiative aimed at expanding access to teen driver training across Ohio.
The funding is part of the Drive to Succeed Scholarship Program, which will distribute grants totaling $2,495,655 to 35 local school districts and government agencies. The program, launched by Governor DeWine in 2022, aims to support teenage drivers whose families cannot otherwise afford the cost of a driving school.
The grant to the Pickaway Ross Career and Technology Center is part of the second round of funding offered through the scholarship program, administered by the Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO). The funding is expected to provide driver training scholarships to approximately 5,500 Ohio students living in 43 counties.
Governor DeWine expressed his support for the program, stating, “This program is already helping hundreds of teens learn skills to be safer drivers, and we are happy to help even more young people receive driver training. When young drivers know the strategies to stay safe on the roads, the roads are safer for everyone.”
Andy Wilson, Director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety, highlighted the importance of driver training, noting that teens who obtain their driver’s license before they turn 18 are less likely to be involved in a crash in their first year of having a license.
Emily Davidson, OTSO Director, echoed these sentiments, stating, “Driver training plays a crucial role in setting teens up for a successful future. By distributing these funds to local jurisdictions, we can address the specific localized needs and resources of the community.”
This announcement follows a number of traffic safety initiatives for young drivers launched by Governor DeWine, including the new Creating Opportunities for Driver Education (CODE) Grant program that supports the expansion of driver training options in underserved areas.