Career Technical Education Partnership Program students participate in the Essex Tech Advanced Manufacturing program. (Photo courtesy of Essex Tech) The grant funding will help expand the programming and equipment for NightHawks Adult Education students studying Advanced Manufacturing, Welding and Metal Fabrication and Plumbing (pictured above, prior to the start of the pandemic) as well as day students. (Photo courtesy of Essex Tech) 
Additional equipment for all students studying Advanced Manufacturing, Welding and Metal Fabrication and Plumbing will be available as a result of the grant funding. (Photo courtesy of Essex Tech)
HATHORNE— Superintendent-Director Heidi Riccio Ed.D. is pleased to share that Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School has been awarded a $1.25 million Skills Capital grant from the Baker-Polito Administration.
These funds will allow the district to expand programming and equipment available to its day students and the NightHawks Adult Education students studying Advanced Manufacturing, Welding and Metal Fabrication and Plumbing. The expansion will also allow the school to accept more students into its midday Career Technical Education Partnership Program with Beverly, Gloucester, Peabody, and Salem where students in grades 11 and 12 attend a half day of academic classes in their home districts and come to Essex Tech for the second half of the day for workforce training.
“Essex Tech is fortunate to have received numerous capital skills grants in recent years that included expansion efforts in HVAC, Health Occupations, Dental Assisting, Engineering & Manufacturing, Information Technology, and Construction and Landscaping,” Superintendent Riccio said. “These funds will support the continued commitment of our school community to be a leader in vocational training and workforce development on the North Shore and will be used for Advanced Manufacturing, Plumbing, Metal Fabrication and Welding. We are truly grateful to the Baker administration for their commitment to strengthen technical education in the Commonwealth.”
As a result of the grant, which will be allocated over two years and was the largest award given today, the district will be able to purchase updated equipment as well.
Essex Tech is one of 47 educational institutions who were awarded Skills Capital grants by the Baker-Polito administration today. In all, $11.7 million in funds were allocated to support the purchase of updated equipment and the growth of student enrollment in career and technical education programs.
Skills Cabinet 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.
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. More than 300 educational programs have received financial support from the Skills Capital grant initiative, which has awarded approximately $92 million and is overseen by Gov. Baker’s Workforce Skills Cabinet.
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