COLUMBUS, Ohio (WOIO) – Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has submitted the state as the home for a possible new Coast Guard training facility, believing that the Urbana University site to fit the mold.
Urbana University closed in 2020, with the campus sitting vacant. The campus is in Urbana, around 200 miles from Lake Erie.
It’s location, while not close to any source of large water, does fit the mold for a possible Coast Guard training facility. According to the U.S. Coast Guard official website, here are the requirements needed:
Lodging for 1,200 recruits A dining facility capable of seating 400 personnel A medical facility to support 1,000 personnel (minimum 200 medical encounters and 200 dental encounters per day) 14 classrooms sized to accommodate 30-60 students An auditorium with a capacity of 500+ students A pool with 6 lanes, 25 yards in length, and a minimum depth of 4 feet A multipurpose gymnasium/athletic/sports facility suitable for sitting 1,200 personnel Office space for 400 staff members A land area of 150-250 acres Proximity to a small commercial service or larger airport within 30 milesÂ
The Coast Guard does not mandate training facilities to be directly near a large body of water, despite being the maritime search and rescue operation of the United States.
The federal government’s call for submissions closed on December 8, 2025, so it’s unknown if the Governor’s submission will even be considered at this time.
Below is the letter Governor DeWine sent to the federal government.
Governor DeWine sends letter calling for Ohio to be next Coast Guard training site.(NA)
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.