HATHORNE – Essex Tech has been awarded a $121,000 Skills Capital Grant from the Baker-Polito Administration. The grant was announced during a ceremony held at Peabody Veterans Memorial High School on Monday, Aug. 16, during which Gov. Charlie Baker handed out Skills Capital Grants to 47 educational organizations.
The School will use the grant to expand career and technical education opportunities in the construction trades for students in its day program, after-school program, and adult evening classes. The grant will allow the District to purchase new equipment, and thus better prepare its graduates for the workforce. The District plans to purchase, among other items, a tow-behind compressor, dustless dry cutting saw, airlift paver installation kit, rubber rolling paver compactor, Genie Lift, walk-behind concrete saw, and a pavement breaker.
Through its Skills Capital Grants, the Baker-Polito Administration has worked to increase the number of students enrolled in programs where they can learn and train for occupations in high-demand careers.
“The Skills Capital Grants have helped give thousands of young people opportunities in high-demand jobs, and the grants have had a tremendous impact on students, schools and local businesses,” Gov. Baker said. “These significant investments made over the past six years in this program with our partners in the Legislature will help train students to adapt to the changing needs of our economy.”
Skills Capital Grants are awarded to educational institutions that are able to showcase their partnerships with local businesses and whose curriculum and credentials seek to meet the demand of growing industries in the Commonwealth. More than 300 educational programs have received financial support from the Skills Capital Grant initiative, Gov. Baker announced that the Workforce Skills Cabinet funding has now exceeded $100 million. “Massachusetts is ranked as one of the top economies for innovation. When you think about innovation, you think about the problems that exist in the world, and the people who have the skills and knowhow to fix them,” Lt. Gov. Polito said. “To continue to be competitive, we need to invest in skills development, and in educational opportunities.”
“We are grateful to Gov. Baker and his cabinet for the continued support of our programs, and career and technical education overall,” Superintendent Heidi Riccio said. “These funds will allow us to further expand our CTI Initiative through our day, afternoon, and evening programming in the building trades. Remaining current to industry trends is critical in vocational education and we are truly appreciative to further advance our programs and partnerships.”
