The Healey-Driscoll administration recently  announced that it is awarding nearly $15 million in Skills Capital Grants to 65 high schools, colleges, and educational institutions. This funding, announced at Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School, will support schools and institutions to upgrade technology and instructional lab spaces, expand career programs for young people and adults, and increase capacity in workforce training programs across Massachusetts.

Of these funds, Somerville High School, Center for Career and Technical Education received $204,897 to upgrade technology and instructional lab spaces, expand career programs for young people and adults, and increase capacity in workforce training program.

“We want to ensure that what students learn in school helps them get where they want to go, while also meeting our workforce needs,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These Skills Capital Grants will ensure our students and adult learners have access to innovative technology, equipment, and spaces to gain the skills they need to prepare them for successful careers in high demand industries.”

“Schools receiving Skills Capital Grants partner with local businesses and align curriculum and credentials with industry standards, ensuring our students are prepared for when they enter the workforce,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “These grants are a win for our students, schools, employers and local communities.”

The Skills Capital Grants are awarded by the state’s Workforce Skills Cabinet, which brings together the Secretariats of Education, Labor and Workforce Development, Economic Development, and Health and Human Services. This Cabinet works to align education, economic development, and workforce policies to meet employers’ demand for skilled workers in every region of Massachusetts. The competitive grants are awarded to educational institutions that demonstrate partnerships with local businesses, as well as align curriculum and credentials with industry demand to maximize hiring opportunities.

“As an initiative of the Workforce Skills Cabinet, the Skills Capital Grants provide valuable resources for our vocational schools to benefit students and adult learners with hands-on tools and equipment,” said Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones. “The Healey-Driscoll Administration appreciates partnering with awarded schools to collaborate in preparing our future workforce with critical skills training for career paths in fields like manufacturing, construction, and other trades.”

Skills Capital Grants have improved learning experiences across several high demand fields, including to purchase training equipment aligned with current industry-standard technology and workforce demands in the automotive industry. The funds have also been used to modernize and expand instructional lab spaces to increase enrollment in HVAC programs and purchase new equipment to provide specialized training for careers in offshore wind projects, green technologies, and energy efficiency. Further, some organizations have used funding to purchase virtual reality equipment to help students with disabilities earn credentials that lead to professions in the health services industry, including certified nursing assistants.