(PHOTO BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
BREAKING GROUND … A groundbreaking ceremony took place for the new Four County Career Center expansion project. Pictures are Ohio Rep. Roy Klopfenstein, Ohio Senate President Rob McColley, U.S. Rep. Bob Latta, Treasurer/CFO Homer Hendricks, U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, President of the Four County Career Center Board of Education, Deb Gerken, Ohio Representative Jim Hoops, Director of Career Technical Education for the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, Jeremy Varner, and Four County Career Center Superintendent Jeffrey Slattery.
By: Jacob Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jacob@thevillagereporter.com
Four County Career Center held a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, May 2, for a major expansion project that will significantly enhance its welding and electrical programs.
The school secured a $14.79 million grant from the Ohio CTE Construction Facilities Expansion Fund, with Four County contributing an additional $1 million in in-kind funds and $1,255,282 in contingency funds to support the addition of a 36,000-square-foot facility.
The new addition will be entirely dedicated to the welding and electrical programs and is designed to meet the growing demand for skilled trades education across the region.
It will house two welding labs, two electrical labs (one focused on residential applications and the other on commercial), two classroom spaces, and additional areas for storage, lockers, testing rooms, and a mezzanine.
The expansion will allow Four County Career Center to dramatically increase its capacity. Combined enrollment for junior and senior students in the electrical program will grow from 48 to 96 students, while combined enrollment in the welding programs will increase from 36 to 96 students.
Serving students from 22 school districts across Defiance, Fulton, Henry, and Williams counties, the Career Center aims to prepare students with hands-on training in high-demand fields by providing updated, industry-relevant learning environments.
Superintendent Jeffery Slattery led the ceremony and was joined by the Board of Education along with numerous guests from the four-county area.
Additional attendees included Ohio State Representative James Hoops, U.S. Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, U.S. Representative Robert Latta, and Ohio State Senator Robert McColley, who each expressed their enthusiasm for the project and its regional impact.
“Congratulations to you on all the specialties that you’re promoting and for inviting us to the ceremony to make us feel good as spring begins about where this region and our country is headed,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur.
Building on that sentiment, Representative James Hoops emphasized the importance of preparing the next generation for essential roles in the workforce and beyond.
“Ohio is an aging state and we’re going to have a lot of retirements coming up, especially in the trade areas and that’s why it’s so important seeing the young men and women out there who are going to be our future workers, our future politicians, future lawyers, future teachers,” added Representative James Hoops.
Slattery also commented on the impact of the project. “This is a great day for Four County Career Center students and the area businesses that rely on the highly skilled welders and electricians.”
“The expansion will allow us to give more students the training they need to have successful careers that provide good wages and benefits.”
This expansion is part of a broader initiative to address regional workforce needs by offering students robust, real-world preparation in career-technical fields.
Construction is expected to continue through the coming months, with completion slated in time for the 2026–2027 school year.