For Immediate Release

Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Greater Lowell Tech Receives Skills Capital Grant for IT and Cyber Security Programming

TYNGSBOROUGH — Superintendent Joseph Mastrocola is pleased to announce that Greater Lowell Tech received a $68,503 Skills Capital Grant from Gov. Charlie Baker this afternoon to support its Information Technology/Programming and Web Development program.

Skills Capital Grants, which are administered through Gov. Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito’s office, are designed to help high schools, colleges and other educational institutions invest in the most up-to-date training equipment to give their students an advantage when they continue in their chosen field or particular area of study. The awards cover a broad range of fields, from construction and engineering to healthcare and hospitality.

During a ceremony at Shawsheen Valley Technical High School, Gov. Baker, along with Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Mike Kennealy and Secretary of Education James Peyser recognized grant recipients.

Gov. Baker spoke of the competitiveness of the Skills Capital Grants, recognizing the schools that earned grants due to their successful programming and relationships with local employers and businesses.

“I am constantly amazed and impressed with the quality of the students and the quality of the programming that I see when I have a chance to spend some time at these schools,” Gov. Baker said.

Students in GLTHS’s Information Technology/Programming and Web Development program earn industry-recognized credentials and complete Advanced Placement Computer Science courses. GLTHS plans to partner with the Greater Lowell Workforce Board to provide training opportunities to adults through its evening school and workforce training programs.

“This Skills Capital Grant will be essential in allowing us to expand our programming to address the need for Information Technology professionals in our area,” Superintendent Mastrocola said. “Thank you to the Baker-Polito administration for recognizing this need and supporting GLTHS with our endeavor to train the next generation of cyber security professionals.”

Funding from the grant will allow Greater Lowell Tech to purchase equipment to furnish a new state-of-the-art computer lab with 18 student training stations, 20 computers and materials for networking, security and cyber operations.

“This grant will further help us prepare students for post-secondary education and careers,” said Technology/Allied Health Cluster Chair Peggy Sarmento. “Our students are excited about the program, and what they learn is directly aligned with current events surrounding cyber security.”

“With the additional resources we will receive through the Skills Capital Grant, we will continue the pathway for Department of Defense initiatives pursuant to cyber security,” added IT instructor Paul Pesce. “The career opportunities in this industry are astronomical. Every company across all industries needs protection.”

The Skills Capital Grants are awarded by Gov. Baker’s Workforce Skills Cabinet. Gov. Baker and Lt. Gov. Polito created the Workforce Skills Cabinet in 2015, bringing together the secretaries of education, labor and workforce development, and housing and economic development in order to align education, economic development and workforce policies, and to strategize around how to meet employers’ demand for skilled workers in each region of the state.

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