Baker-Polito Administration Hits Milestone of Awarding More Than $100 Million in Skills Capital Grants to High Schools, Colleges and Educational Institutions
Latest round of grants total more than $9.7 million
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Governor
Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Labor and Workforce Development
Secretary Rosalin Acosta and Education Secretary James Peyser visited Peabody
Veterans Memorial High School to announce the awards and to tour the high
school’s electrical engineering and culinary arts classrooms, which received a
$175,000 award last year.
The
Skills Capital Grant Program was originally launched in 2015 with the goal of replacing outdated
equipment and technology, mainly at vocational technical high schools and
community colleges. Since then, the program has
evolved into a crucial component of local workforce training efforts by
expanding the number of young people and adults trained and experienced with
the newest technologies used by local employers. Approximately
40,000 students across the Commonwealth have directly benefitted from these
grants.
“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,” said
Governor Charlie Baker. “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.”
“Massachusetts, like the rest of the country, will face
workforce challenges in the next few years, but we are poised to handle them
better because of programs like the Skills Capital Grants,” said Lt. Governor Karyn
Polito. “The grants enable schools,
colleges and other educational institutions to revamp how students learn and
gain crucial experience that serves them and employers well.”
Since
2015, 387 grants totaling more than $102 million have been awarded to 187
different schools and educational institutions across the Commonwealth, with
many organizations receiving multiple grants over the years. The state’s investment also helped institutions leverage the grants to
gain an additional $25 million in local matching funds.
About two-thirds of
the investments made with the grants are directly aligned to reduce skills gaps
in high priority industry sectors, including health care, manufacturing, IT and
skilled trades. A percentage of the funding, about 5 percent, has been invested
in multi-year strategic projects in manufacturing, healthcare and energy
training programs which are projected to have significant regional impact.
“As we
continue to address economic disparities across the Commonwealth and provide
solutions to employment gaps in high-demand industries, the Skills Capital
Grants play a significant role in training students of all ages for successful
long-lasting careers,” said Executive Office of Labor and Workforce
Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta. “The impact of these grant funds on
students, educational institutions, and local business partners is
incredibly positive and moves us toward a more equitable economy.”
Approximately 68
percent of the funds have been awarded to traditional high schools and
vocational technical schools, 24 percent going to colleges, and another 8
percent to community-based organizations. A focus of the more recent grant
awards has been the launch and expansion of the Governor’s Career Technical
Initiative, which supports vocational-technical schools in expanding their
impact by operating programs in the afternoons for local high school students
and in the evenings for workers and adult learners.
“These
unprecedented and sustained investments to expand training capacity in
high-demand industries, and upgrades to the quality of equipment, ensure that
our students – both young people and adults – graduate with knowledge and
skills that are of immediate value to them as they launch careers and to
employers who need skilled workers in today’s rapidly changing economy,” said
Education Secretary James Peyser.
“Training a skilled
workforce is critical to the Commonwealth’s economic recovery, and the Skills
Capital Grants have been a vital component of our efforts to strengthen the
talent pipelines for key industries,” said Housing and Economic Development
Secretary Mike Kennealy. “As we continue emerging from the economic
damage inflicted by the pandemic, funding this program at this milestone level
will significantly increase access to employment opportunities in every region
of Massachusetts and accelerate progress toward recovery.”
The Skills Capital Grants are awarded by Governor
Baker’s Workforce Skills Cabinet, which was created in 2015 to bring together
the Secretariats of Education, Labor and Workforce Development, and Housing and
Economic Development to align education, economic development, and workforce
policies in order to strategize around how to meet employers’ demand for skilled
workers in every region of the Commonwealth.
The following organizations received awards in this round:
Agawam High School,
Agawam - $58,188, Manufacturing & Information Technology: The school will use
the grant to expand its existing early career programs in manufacturing and
information technology.
Atlantis Charter
School, Fall River - $75,000, Manufacturing Innovation Pathway: The grant will
support the school’s manufacturing early career program by providing students
with substantial resources to improve their workforce training. The grant will
enable the school to leverage matching grant opportunities from philanthropic
donors, local businesses, and higher education institutions.
Attleboro High
School, Attleboro - $180,00, Metal fabrication: Attleboro High
School will purchase programmable welding robots used by industry partners to
provide students experience on the most up-to-date equipment used by employers.
The school also plans to launch new adult/evening training programs to meet
demand for training.
Bay Path Regional
Vocational Technical High School, Charlton - $250,000, Veterinarian Tech: The school will
renovate the veterinary hospital where students train and work alongside
veterinary professionals in the fully operational veterinary hospital. The
school will eventually offer afterschool and evening programs to adult learners
to earn a veterinary assisting certification. Bay Path will partner with Second
Chance Animal Services, an organization that provides care to animals.
Benjamin Franklin
Institute of Technology (BFIT), Boston - $151,468, Electrical
Technology: BFIT’s Engineering Technology program will prepare students for a
wide-range of jobs in the technology sector, including robotic assembly
technicians, test technicians, automation technicians, solar technicians, solar
installation technicians, wind technicians, mechanical technicians, machine
tool technicians, and manufacturing technicians. The school will offer
stackable certificates and associate degrees in engineering technology.
Berkshire Community
College, Pittsfield - $400,000, Culinary and Hospitality: The college will
establish the Berkshire Culinary Institute (BCI) to support its redesigned
culinary and hospitality program. The former cafeteria will be repurposed
into a modern teaching and learning space to give students experience in
culinary, hospitality and the food service industries.
Blue Hills Regional
Technical School, Canton - $200,000, Engineering Technology: The school will
expand its engineering and drafting/CAD programs, and purchase new robotics
equipment, a CNC mill, water cutter, and workstations with power. By
improving the program, the school will help students meet increasing industry
demand for skilled workers in the engineering profession.
Bridgewater State
University, Bridgewater - $250,000, Information Technology and Security: The university
plans to develop a cyber simulation center to expand course offerings in
cyber-criminology, cybersecurity, and digital forensics to meet critical
workforce needs. The university is collaborating with state, education, and
industry leaders to create a Commonwealth Cybersecurity Consortium.
Bristol-Plymouth
Regional Technical School, Taunton - $228,380, Community Health
& Practical Nurse Program: The school will update instructional labs in
the community health and practical nurse programs to provide students with
hands on experience using modern patient simulation and industry standard
equipment.
Cape Cod Community
College, West Barnstable - $479,082, Nursing & Allied Health: The college is
aiming to expand the nursing program by 50 percent by 2023-2024. With the
grant, the college will purchase patient simulation manikins, accompanying AV
media tools to capture and stream simulation data, IV infusion pumps, a
medication management system, and four hospital beds with full set-up.
Cape Cod Regional
Technical High School, Harwich - $275,000, Agriculture/Horticulture
Program: The high
school will purchase equipment to improve the horticulture program,
specifically landscaping, groundskeeping and landscape construction.
Instructors will be able to optimize the job readiness and employability of
young horticulturists, arborists, and agricultural workers by accelerating
their progress toward professional licensure and certifications. Cape Cod
Regional Technical High School will purchase hydroponics and aquaponics systems
equipment to allow new areas of instruction that aligns with economic and
business development.
Catholic Charities
South, Brockton - $84,127, Certified Nursing Assistant and Home Health Aide: Catholic Charities
South (CCS) operates the Brockton certified nursing assistant and home health
aide training program and the English Transcultural Center (ETC), which
provides adult education programs and classes that include English for Speakers
of Other Languages (ESOL) classes, computer literacy training, and employment
assistance and placement. The grant will help increase the adult education
programs' capacity, allowing additional training in day and evening hours, and
strengthen the programs' ability to drive students to Nursing Assistant and
Home Health Aide credentials.
Central MA Center
for Business & Enterprise, Whitinsville - $111,000, Welding and Metal
Fabrication: Funding will support Central MA Center for Business & Enterprise
to purchase additional AAR Welding Simulators to increase the learning
capacity, and hands on applied learning experiences for adult workforce
training and partnering high schools’ students enrolled in Innovation Pathways.
The additional welders will support students to have increased hands-on instructional
time to demonstrate mastery of additional skill sets required to obtain
industry credentials desired by employer partners.
Dighton-Rehoboth
Regional High School, Dighton - $214,000, Advanced Manufacturing: The high school
will update equipment and technology in the Advanced Manufacturing program. The
grant will expand training for students and adults in the community to meet
workforce gaps in the manufacturing sector. The school will purchase CNC
lathes, CNC milling machines, 3-D printers, a laser machine.
Diman Regional
Vocational, Fall River - $55,938, Metal Fabrication & Joining Technologies
Program: The school
will train students and unemployed/underemployed adult learners in metal
fabrication and joining technologies to meet the need for skilled welders and
pipefitters. New VICON fabrication & ViSoft HVAC software equipment will be
available during school hours to Diman students, and in the evening for adults
in the Career Technical Institute program.
Essex North Shore
Agricultural and Technical School, Hathorne - $121,000, Construction
Trades: The school
will expand career and technical education opportunities in the construction
trades for students in both the day program, afterschool, and adult evening
classes.
Fitchburg High
School, Fitchburg - $71,762, Manufacturing Innovation Pathway: Students enrolled
in the high school’s manufacturing Innovation Pathway program will gain
experience in manufacturing, robotics, C.A.D./blueprint reading and
engineering.
Gardner High
School, Gardner - $75,000, Manufacturing Innovation Pathway: The high school
will purchase a new CNC machine and milling and miter equipment to support
students enrolled in the manufacturing Innovation Pathway programs in
makerspace, technology & engineering, robotics, intro and advanced
woodworking that align to the new MACWIC certification course at Gardner High
School.
Greater Lawrence
Technical School, Andover - $220,000, Advanced Manufacturing and Metal
Fabrication: The high school will expand the advanced manufacturing shop and
upgrade equipment in the metal fabrication and joining technologies lab. The
new equipment will help expand the school’s Career Technical Institute by
increasing the number of students enrolled in afternoon and evening
programs.
Greenfield
Community College, Greenfield - $450,000, Nursing and Emergency Medical Services
(EMS): The college will
upgrade its clinical patient simulation lab (SIMS Lab) for both its Department
of Nursing and Emergency Medical Services Program, replacing outdated low- and
hi-fidelity patient simulators and components.
Massachusetts
College of Art and Design, Boston - $150,000, Creative Economy
Technicians: The college will update the Creative Economy Technology labs
with new equipment and technology, including 3D printers and scanners, laser
cutters; downdraft tables, and related support equipment and air systems. The
equipment will provide MassArt graduates the skills and training they need to
enter the workforce immediately upon graduation in creative occupations related
to robotics and animation, engineering technology, information services and
networking sectors.
Massachusetts
Maritime Academy, Buzzards Bay - $250,000, Renewable Energy
and Advanced Manufacturing: Mass Maritime will create an Advanced
Manufacturing and Design Makerspace which will modernize, upgrade, and renovate
existing resources that support the Energy Systems Engineering (ESEN)
undergraduate program. The Academy will partner with renewable energy companies
including offshore wind organizations and secondary school partners to help
build out and customize the program. The new makerspace lab will be used to
support the Academy’s workforce development initiatives for underemployed adult
learners and create pathways for the Academy’s K-12 programs aimed to inspire
women and students of color to pursue STEM fields, and vocational and
apprentice pathway programs.
Massasoit Community
College, Brockton - $213,196, Allied Health: The college will purchase training
equipment for its allied health programs to support students learning to become
radiologic technicians, medical assistants, medical practice specialists, EMTs,
paramedics, community EMS paramedics, EKG technicians, and phlebotomists.
MassBay Community
College, Wellesley - $750,000, Nursing and Allied Health Pathways: The college will
purchase new equipment to support students in the nursing and medical imagining
pathways. Students will have the opportunity to continue to the practical
nursing certificate and associate degree in nursing, and then proceed to a
bachelor’s degree in nursing at Framingham State University. Students gain
clinical training at one of the college’s 45 partnering health care organizations.
Mattapan/Greater
Boston Technology Learning Center, Mattapan - $150,000, Computer Network
Support Specialist: Mattapan Tech will purchase new technology equipment to continue
providing free job training to young people and new immigrants in the most
vulnerable communities. The program covers a broad range of computer and
network fundamentals for IT careers, based on the latest technology and
software development skills.
McCann Technical
School, North Adams - $96,430, Metal Fabrication & Welding: Precision
manufacturing in Berkshire County is a niche market focused on the aerospace,
defense, commercial, medical device, plastics, and mold making markets.
Critical to these industries is a workforce of well-trained welders, metal
fabricators, and robotic welding technology programmers for both bridge and
structural and pre-cast concrete fabrication. The high school will purchase
welding and robotics equipment to support students in the metal fabrication
program, as well as learners in evening adult training programs.
Medford Vocational
Technical High School, Medford - $367,994, Construction and
Craft Laborer: The high school will purchase heavy construction machinery to enhance
its construction and craft laborer’s (CCL) program, as well as the Construction
Academy which includes the carpentry and electrical programs.
Montachusett
Regional Vocational Technical School, Fitchburg - $250,000, Welding/Metal
Fabrication: Welding is one of the top three sectors in the central Massachusetts
region facing a skills gap that must be addressed. The high school will
purchase new welding/metal fabrication equipment to update the existing day
program, which will also used by adults in the new evening Career Technical
Institute program.
Monument Mountain
Regional High School, Great Barrington - $75,000, Manufacturing
Innovative Pathway: Students in the manufacturing Innovation Pathway will have
opportunities for hands on instruction with several multi-material 3D printers,
laser cutters, a welding simulator and automation simulator through Project
Lead the Way (PLTW) project-based learning curriculum.
Mount Wachusett
Community College, Gardner - $250,000, Dental Hygiene: The college will
outfit its dental clinic with a modern sterilization center and upgrade the
dental treatment rooms and radiographic equipment to industry standards. The
dental clinic is housed within Community Health Connections in Fitchburg, which
dental hygiene and assisting students provide patient care. Training provided
to students will improve with state-of-the art sterilization and infection
control procedures and processes that comply with CDC and OSHA guidelines and
align with state licensing requirements.
Northeast
Metropolitan Regional Vocational High School, Wakefield - $61,000, Allied Health
Programs: The school
will upgrade and modernize equipment in the health assisting and dental
assisting programs, which serves more than 180 students.
Old Colony Regional
Vocational Technical High School, Rochester - $250,000, Electronic
Engineering Technology: The school will expand training capacity in the electronics
engineering technology program for high school students, and those in adult
education programs.
Peabody Public
Schools, Peabody - $125,000, Medical Assisting: The school will
purchase simulation-based training equipment for medical assistant students to
gain hands-on practice and knowledge. The equipment will include patient
simulators, electronic thermometers, spirometers, pediatric scales, diagnostic
equipment, and vision and hearing screeners.
Quaboag Regional
High School, Warren - $75,000, Healthcare Innovation Pathway: Students in the
healthcare Innovation Pathway will gain skills for entry level health care
positions and receive Certified Nursing Assistant and Certified Medical
Assistant certifications. With the grant, the school will purchase EKG
machines, blood pressure and phlebotomy training arms, testing/diagnostic
machines, CPR manikins with feedback devices as well as Project Lead the Way equipment
for the Biomedical Sciences.
Quincy High School,
Quincy - $162,400, Carpentry Technology: The high school will enhance the carpentry
technology curriculum to strengthen students’ critical carpentry skills. The
carpentry program is supported by community partners, including Callahan
Construction, City of Quincy Inspectional Services, and A.H. Campbell and Son,
Inc. who will work in collaboration with the high school to ensure graduates
find gainful internships, apprenticeships, employment opportunities, and/or
post-secondary education upon graduation.
Quincy College,
Quincy - $333,881, Pharmacy Technician and Medical Laboratory Technician: The college will
purchase training equipment and new instructional technology for pharmacy
technician and medical laboratory technicians, both occupations that are in
demand in the region.
Quinsigamond
Community College, Worcester - $231,522, Computer Systems Engineering Technology: The college will
enhance its Systems Engineering Technology (CSET) Lab on its Worcester campus
to allow more students to enter the fast-growing Information Technology
industry as Computer User Support Technicians and Information Security
Analysts. As part of their required experiential learning, CSET degree
students work with local employers to troubleshoot computer networking
infrastructures, manage common third-party applications, design data storage
solutions and much more in a structured, paid work environment.
Salem High School,
Salem -$116,000, Automotive Technology: Salem High School will modernize its automotive
technology program to ensure students have the skills required by local
employers. Equipment and technology purchased including modern brake,
alignment, tire, and diagnostic training equipment will enable students to prepare
for ASE industry standard certifications.
Smith Vocational
and Agricultural High School, Northampton- $234,000, Automotive
Technology: The school will modernize the automotive technology and collision
repair programs to prepare students as electric vehicle technology becomes more
widespread. The ATECH Classroom Management system includes hands-on training
aids in engine performance, electrical, emissions, hybrid, starting and
charging brake, and restraint systems.
Somerville High
School Somerville, MA - $268,000, Advanced Manufacturing: The high school
will upgrade and build upon it advanced manufacturing program by adding
industry-standard 3D printing/additive manufacturing equipment. Students
working with this new equipment will have new opportunities for industry
credentialing.
South Shore
Regional Vocational Technical High School, Hanover - $256,000, Allied Health
Technology: High school and adult students will gain knowledge and skills in
health care to pursue careers as certified nurses’ assistants, licensed
practical nurses, blood pathologists, and EKG technicians.
Southeastern
Regional School District, South Easton - $380,000, HVAC and
Electrical: The school will install new electrical and HVAC equipment to support
high school students in the traditional day programs and others enrolled in the
and Career Technical Initiative training program. Students will earn education
and work experience hours toward apprenticeship and/or licensure, along with
other industry-recognized credentials. Electrical students will also graduate
as PLC technicians, allowing them to install, program, and repair programmable
logic controller systems in a variety of industrial applications.
Swampscott High
School, Swampscott - $74,250, Manufacturing Innovation Pathway: Swampscott High
School is launching a newly state approved Innovation Pathway program in
Advanced Manufacturing in the fall of 2021. Grant funds will help create
a manufacturing and fabrication lab that includes hand tools and basic wood and
metal working machinery as well as 3-D printers, replicators, a laser cutter
and a CNC machine for exposure to more industry-standard manufacturing
processes and support students in attaining MACWIC and OSHA certifications, and
specific certifications in industry-standard software such as Solidworks.
Taconic High
School, Pittsfield - $171,615, Information Support Services and Networking: The high school is
launching a new Information Support Services and Networking Program (ISSN) to
meet the local workforce demand. New equipment will outfit two new IT computer
labs that will provide a learning resource for students to become certified in
COMP A++ and Cisco Networking Assistant.
Tantasqua Regional
Vocational High School, Fiskdale- $110,511, Culinary Arts and
Hospitality: The school will retool the kitchen for the culinary program and
student-run restaurant to match current industry standards and prepare students
for cooperative education placements, as well as full-time employment in the
region. Student’s enrolled in the programs earn their OSHA 10 cards, ServeSafe
Alergen, Manager, and Alcohol, in addition to First Aid/CPR credentials.
Waltham High
School, Waltham- $152,871, Health Assisting: The school will
purchase industry-standard health care equipment including EKGs, Pulse Doppler
and Vital Sign machines hospital grade furniture, training models, mobility
equipment to support students enrolled in the newly launched Chapter 74
Healthcare Assistant Program to gain Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) industry
recognized credential. The healthcare industry is identified as a priority
sector in the Greater Boston Regional Blueprint.
Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito will join Labor and
Workforce Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta and Education Secretary James Peyser
to visit Peabody Veterans Memorial High School to announce the latest round of
Skills Capital Grants. To date, the Skills Capital Grant program has awarded
$100 million in grants to high
schools, colleges and other educational institutions to support vocational and
technical educational programming. A livestream will be available here.
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