baker-polito administration

Baker-Polito Administration Awards GLTS $60,000 Advanced Manufacturing Grant

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Greater Lawrence Technical School
Superintendent John Lavoie
57 River Rd, Andover,
MA 01810

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019

Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Baker-Polito Administration Awards GLTS $60,000 Advanced Manufacturing Grant

ANDOVER — Superintendent John Lavoie is pleased to announce that Greater Lawrence Technical School has been awarded $60,000 by the state to support workforce development programming for adults studying advanced manufacturing.

Lt. Governor Karyn Polito visited Greater Lawrence Tech on Tuesday to announce $2.5 million in grants to four regional consortiums through the state’s Advanced Manufacturing Training Program to support workforce development in advanced manufacturing programs. The grants seek to support schools as they craft advanced manufacturing training programs and opportunities to ensure students are receiving the necessary workforce development to succeed in careers in advanced manufacturing. The funding also aims to address the needs of the manufacturing industry in the Commonwealth and its need for more trained workers.

“We cannot solve the workforce skills gap with only student graduates from high schools, we need to tap into the adult community that is looking to re-skill or up-skill to these new skills needed for this economy,” Lt. Governor Polito said. “And to open up schools and classrooms like this so that people can access the training so they can plug into jobs that are here, that are growing and also pay more.”

Several elected and appointed officials also attended and spoke at the event, including Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Mike Kennealy, Rep. Frank A. Moran, Rep. Christina Minicucci, and Rep. Jeffrey Roy. Brian Norris, director of the Northeast Advanced Manufacturing Consortium, also spoke at the event.

“This funding will make a meaningful difference for our adult students looking to enter a field that is growing, and needs more skilled workers,” Superintendent Lavoie said. “We are incredibly thankful to the Baker-Polito administration for their support of our programming, as well as all of our local legislators who continue to advocate on behalf of our students.”

The funding will allow Greater Lawrence Tech to offer a one week boot camp to adult students in contextualized English for English Learners and a one week mathematics boot camp. Approximately 20 students will participate in the camps, which will begin in January.

Rep. Moran, a 1989 graduate of Greater Lawrence Tech, spoke to the benefits his education at Greater Lawrence Tech gave him as a young professional.

“It helped me,” Moran said. “By the time I graduated high school, by the time I was 19-years-old I already owned my own home. That’s what a co-op did. That’s why this is so good. This grant will help us educate not only young folks, but also adults.”

Following the grant announcement, legislators and school officials toured the school’s Advanced Manufacturing Department and spoke with senior students in the program.

Schools that were awarded funding in addition to Greater Lawrence Tech include Essex Tech, Whittier Tech and Shawsheen Valley Tech.

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Andover Fire Rescue Awarded Grant for Gear Cleaning Machine to Reduce Firefighter Cancer Exposure

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Andover Fire Rescue
Michael B. Mansfield, Fire Chief
32 North Main St
Andover, MA 01810

 

 

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019

Contact: Melina Schuler
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Andover Fire Rescue Awarded Grant for Gear Cleaning Machine to Reduce Firefighter Cancer Exposure

ANDOVER — Chief Michael Mansfield reports that Andover Fire Rescue was awarded a more than $6400 grant by the Baker-Polito Administration to assist in the purchase of a gear cleaning machine that will reduce firefighter exposure to cancer-causing chemicals on the job. Through a Washer-Extractor Equipment Grant, awarded to 75 fire departments across the Commonwealth, Andover Fire Rescue will have dedicated funds for the purchase of a new washer-extractor to clean their structural firefighting gear after exposure to smoke and other toxic chemicals.

“A firefighter may face multiple hazards in the course of a day, including exposure to toxic cancer causing chemicals,” said Chief Mansfield. “Andover Fire Department appreciates the emphasis that the Baker-Polito Administration is making on firefighter cancer prevention in making these grants—not only in Andover, but across the Commonwealth.”

A national standard set by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) on the care and cleaning of structural firefighting gear delineates specific types of machines that should be used to effectively remove cancer-causing chemicals after each fire. All washer-extractors purchased with this grant will meet this standard, and enable personnel to wear clean gear each time they leave the fire station for an emergency.

“These grants will help local departments purchase critical gear to support firefighters as they put themselves in harm’s way to protect the Commonwealth’s communities,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Helping to protect them from the physical and occupational hazards of the job is a key way we can show our appreciation for the dedicated service of our first responders.”

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Greater Lawrence Tech Receives $80,000 School Safety Grant

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Greater Lawrence Technical School
Superintendent John Lavoie
57 River Rd, Andover,
MA 01810

For Immediate Release

Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019

Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Greater Lawrence Tech Receives $80,000 School Safety Grant

LAWRENCE — Students, staff and faculty will soon benefit from new security equipment at Greater Lawrence Tech, thanks to a grant from the Baker-Polito administration.

Greater Lawrence Tech is among fourteen regional vocational technical, agricultural and independent schools who were allocated funding, receiving $80,000 from the state. The Baker-Polito Administration awarded $7.2 million in grants to more than 140 Massachusetts schools this October in an effort to support school security initiatives.

“Security is of the utmost importance to all of us here at GLTS, and we’re incredibly thankful the Baker-Polito Administration recognized our need for this funding,” Superintendent John Lavoie said. “As new best practices, equipment, procedures and mechanisms are continually developed to bolster school security, we are always working to revise and improve upon the safety protocol and systems we have in place.”

The funding at Greater Lawrence Tech will allow the school to purchase and install electronic safety systems for all outside doors this school year, as well as an outdoor Public Address (PA) system that will facilitate communication between school officials inside the facility and people on the fields of the campus. The school will additionally install external network cameras as a result of the award.

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Wrentham Achieves Housing Choice Community Designation

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Town of Wrentham
Kevin Sweet, Town Administrator
79 South St.
Wrentham, MA 02093

For Immediate Release

Friday, May 10, 2019

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

Wrentham Achieves Housing Choice Community Designation

Director of Planning and Economic Development Rachel Benson attended a ceremony at the Ellis Factory in Haverhill Thursday where she accepted Wrentham’s Housing Choice Designation. (Courtesy Photo Town of Wrentham)

WRENTHAM — Town Administrator Kevin Sweet is pleased to announce that the town of Wrentham was awarded a Housing Choice Community designation from the state yesterday.

The Baker-Polito Administration recognizes municipalities that have prioritized affordable housing and sustainable housing development through the Housing Choice Designation. The designation allows municipalities to apply to exclusive Housing Choice Capital Grants, and bolsters their applications to other state funding programs, such as MassWorks and MassDOT capital projects.

Director of Planning and Economic Development Rachel Benson attended a ceremony at the Ellis Factory in Haverhill Thursday where she accepted the award. Gov. Charlie Baker, Acting Undersecretary of Housing and Community Development Jennifer Maddox and Housing Choice Program Director Chris Kluchman attended the ceremony.

“This is going to open up grant opportunities for the town, and will help fund projects to further housing initiatives for new families, middle income citizens and seniors,” Benson said. “It will fund projects that specifically target those demographics.”

Wrentham earned the designation because of it’s 12.6 percent affordable housing rate and five percent housing growth over the last five years. The state encourages cities and towns to have at least 10 percent of their housing stock qualify as affordable housing.

“This designation is a great honor, and a step forward for the town of Wrentham,” Town Administrator  Sweet said. “We look forward to pursuing our affordable housing goals, and working to support our seniors, young families and middle income residents.”

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