Upper Valley Career Center officials and students are joined by Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, eighth from left, and U.S. Congressman Warren Davidson, second from left, as they broke ground for an $18M expansion project at the school on Wednesday. The event included tours of some of the classrooms. The expansion is expected to be completed in October 2025.
Kathleen Leese | For Miami Valley Today
PIQUA — Upper Valley Career Center broke ground Wednesday on an $18M expansion project.
Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, U.S. Rep. Warren Davidson R-Troy, state Rep. Tim Barhorst R-Fort Loramie and several local legislators and partners gathered at the career center’s groundbreaking ceremony.
This project, made possible by the state of Ohio’s Career Technical Construction Program, will greatly benefit several of UVCC’s programs including Medical Careers Academy, First Responders Academy, sports medicine, construction technologies, electrical trades, robotics and automation, building maintenance, and manufacturing and machining technologies, according to a UVCC press release.
“Today, as we break ground on the next phase of Upper Valley Career Center’s journey, we are not just expanding our physical space—we are expanding the possibilities for future students,” superintendent Jason Haak said. “Upper Valley Career Center has reached capacity in several program areas and has exhausted options for any additional on-campus programming in our facility.”
This expansion, which increases the overall footprint of the career center by 20 percent, will allow for over 150 new students annually.
Husted spoke to attendees about the importance of career tech education in the state of Ohio.
“The skills you are developing and learning are the skills employers in your area need. They are in demand; in manufacturing, electrical, in construction, robotics and automation, in health sciences and certainly first responders,” he said.
Senior Deanna Rodeheffer expressed what this groundbreaking meant to her as a student.
“This expansion means that more students will have the chance to engage in real-world projects, gain valuable skills, and explore career paths that directly align with their interests and goals,” she said. “It’s not just about adding seats in a classroom; it’s about addressing the growing demand for career-ready graduates.”
The estimated completion for this project is October 2025, in time for the career center’s 50th anniversary.
