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
PEABODY – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced $9.7 million in grants from the Skills Capital Grant Program to 47 educational organizations across the Commonwealth to update equipment and expand student enrollment in programs that provide career education. The awards announced today mark $102 million in total funding provided to high schools, colleges and other educational organizations since the program’s inception in 2015.
The Skills Capital Grant Program was originally launched in 2015 with the goal of replacing outdated equipment and technology, mainly at vocational technical high schools and community colleges.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.
Six local schools secured grants:
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.
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.
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.
