Central Mass. technical schools granted $4M+ for workforce development

Photo | mass.gov Gov. Charlie Baker speaks about Skills Capital Grants in Westfield

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By Timothy Doyle

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts awarded $4.3 million in Skills Capital Grants to technical high schools in Fitchburg, Marlborough, and Worcester to improve and expand facilities, aimed at improving job training and workforce development.

Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School in Fitchburg received $1.9 million to expand electrical and carpentry instructional lab capacity, and partner with local high schools to develop an afternoon program that will benefit 800 students and expand the evening Career Technical Initiative adult-learning program.

Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School in Marlborough received $1.3 million to modernize and expand HVAC instructional lab space with the goal of tripling enrollment over the next three years.The grant will enable the purchase of equipment such as work benches, project tools, oil burners, furnaces, and heat pump training equipment. The improvements will support traditional high school students and expand the CTI adult training programming.

Worcester Technical High School received $1.1 million to modernize its automotive technician instructional lab, which will benefit high school students as well as CTI adult learners. New equipment includes auto lifts, brake lathe machines, tire balancers, alignment machines, bench racks, paint booths, and hybrid auto system tools.

The funding for the these grants was included in a $4-billion Massachusetts spending plan from its allocation of the federal American Rescue Plan Act funds.

Statewide, 14 schools received $24 million in Skills Capital Grants.

The program, founded in 2015, has provided 491 grants totaling $153 million, aimed at replacing outdated equipment and technology, mainly at vocational technical high schools and community colleges, according to a Wednesday press release from the state.