CLEVELAND — A $110,000 grant will go toward a training program in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District that helps prepare students for the maritime and aviation industries.

What You Need To Know

  • The grant will be used by the nonprofit Argonaut, which provides hands-on experience to students at Davis Aerospace and Maritime High School

  • The funds will be used to increase the number of students in the program, as well as expand opportunities

  • The program also helps keep waterways clean throughout the city

The grant, approved by the Port of Cleveland, will be given to Argonaut, the nonprofit that provides the hands-on training at Davis Aerospace and Maritime High School.

Argonaut plans to the use the funding to increase the number of students within the Maritime Safety Program, help expand opportunities for Cleveland high school students and strengthen connections to the city’s waterfront economy, according to a press release.

“We are committed to ensuring that economic development benefits every corner of our community,” said Carl Naso, Port CFO. “Argonaut has been a vital partner in providing hands-on workforce training while also playing a critical role in keeping our waterways safe. This grant allows them to expand their impact, providing more Cleveland students with career opportunities while bolstering safety on the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie.”

The program gives students real-world experience while also contributing to public safety efforts in the city’s waterways. For example, in 2023, the Argonaut crew did the following:

  • Assisted 91 ships navigating Cleveland’s harbor
  • Partnered with the U.S. Coast Guard and emergency services on 123 missions
  • Led 10 active in-water rescues and assisted with 32 additional rescue operations

Additional programs through Argonaut help keep the waterways clean, with students using designed vessels to help remove floating debris from the Cuyahoga River, as well as the Inner Harbor. The Port of Cleveland said four active Davis students and two Davis graduates currently manage clean-up efforts four days a week after school and during the summer.

Students also gain experience with mechanical, fueling, vessel operations and safety inspections, according to the Port of Cleveland.

“The Port’s continued investment in the future of Cleveland’s maritime workforce is invaluable,” said Drew Ferguson, founder and CEO of Argonaut. “This funding allows us to provide students with immersive, real-world learning experiences while making Cleveland’s waterways cleaner, safer, and more accessible for everyone.”