New funds from Ohio’s casinos will increase the odds that some local college students will get good on-the-job experience before they graduate.

The Ohio Board of Regents has awarded Miami University $81,000 from casino license fees to increase the number and degree areas of co-ops and internships available to Regional Campus students, said regional campus spokesman Perry Richardson.

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College has also received $123,000 from the program to build new co-op program infrastructure at the Butler County Workforce Center in Middletown.

The grant funds to Miami will be used in part to subsidize co-op student’s salaries through new partnerships with area business designed to increase the number of placements.

“Co-oping will give employers a chance to get to know our students and at the same time give our students practical hands on experience,” said Cathy Bishop-Clark, Chair of the CIT Department. “It is a win-win for all.”

The grant also includes $5,000 to start a co-op/internship scholarship, with Miami pledging to raise a matching $5,000.

Cincinnati State plans to use the money to create 51 new or expanded co-op jobs in six industries: advanced manufacturing, aerospace/aviation, bio-health, consumer products, financial services and information technology.

“We believe in ‘earn as you learn,’” said Cincinnati State President O’dell Owens, “and over the past four decades we have seen time and again the value of on-the-job experience for our students.”

The money also will help the college recruit and support new co-op partners near the Middletown campus, enhance the college’s web site and databases and work with business partners in the region to make sure the college’s curriculum gives students the skills that employers need.

Across the state, 10 community colleges and 13 universities have been given funds from $11 million collected by the casino fees. The program is projected to create up to 3,496 co-op and internship positions.

The grants are part of Governor John Kasich’s workforce development strategies to align Ohio’s higher education curriculum with skills that are in demand by Ohio’s businesses, according to Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Jim Petro.

“These awards are meant to provide Ohio employers with opportunities to benefit from the talents of Ohio’s college and career technical students,” Petro said. “And they’ll provide students with valuable internship or co-op experience.”

Working with industry stakeholders to provide students with meaningful co-op or internship experiences provides benefits to students, who receive a good salary and valuable job skills, and to industry, who reap the benefits of well-prepared student-workers and who recruit talented permanent employees from co-ops, Petro said.