MONTAGUE — Franklin County Technical School has been awarded more than $2.2 million to support its adult education program, representing the largest state grant the school has received to date.
The adult education program, called the Franklin County Career & Technical Institute, received the grant as part of a total $24.2 million that was awarded to 23 school districts across the state through the Career Technical Initiative (CTI) program. The money supports career and technical education schools that teach and certify adult learners for jobs in high-demand trades.
Notably, Franklin Tech, which has 219 students enrolled in its adult education program, received the second-largest allocation, just behind the South Shore Regional Vocational School District in Hanover, which received $3.93 million for its 392 enrolled learners.
“The state’s commitment to these trainings, I think, really proves that they are aware of the deficit and are working hard to fill that need and to fill that void with the people who need it the most,” Justin Lawrence, director of adult education at Franklin Tech, said Monday.
The Franklin County Career & Technical Institute started in September 2022 with a $50,000 planning and partnership grant. Lawrence said that since the program began at Franklin Tech, the offering has become popular across the region.
“Both in strategic partnerships and in interest and student applications, we’ve seen a tremendous amount of growth around people who want to be involved,” he said.
When adult learners enroll at Franklin Tech under this program, they are eligible for free tuition and educational materials. Students can train in a variety of trades such as automotive technology, carpentry, electrical and welding, and earn certifications for their chosen industry, like a D1 certification for welding or pesticide licenses.
Students can also learn from local professionals with companies that partner with Franklin Tech, and learn what will be expected of them in the workplace, Lawrence said.
“Many of our students are unfamiliar with what it means to be a blue-collar employee,” he said, “so we work with those employee partners to help them understand what will be expected of them when they start working in the field.”
In the grant announcement, some of the Franklin County partners listed include Ames Electrical Consulting, Mowry & Schmidt Inc., Sugarloaf Gardens and the Franklin County Regional Housing & Redevelopment Authority, among 26 other partnership organizations.
Other Pioneer Valley schools to receive funding are Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School in Northampton, which is receiving $479,998 to provide training to 60 culinary arts participants, and Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School in Palmer, which is being awarded $730,000 to provide training to 72 participants for CNC machine operator, electrician and plumbing positions.
Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School in Fitchburg received $970,000 for its adult learners. Superintendent Thomas Browne said in a statement that the school is grateful for the state partnerships to support this education.
“Monty Tech will be able to provide instruction to 96 deserving trainees spread across four career pathways — HVAC, CNC operator, cook, and groundskeeping and small engine repair — that are in dire need of an infusion of skilled workers,” Browne said. “Such opportunities are a boon, not just to the students, but to the economic vitality of the region.”
