Minuteman Receives Nearly $1.3 Million in Workforce Skills Cabinet Grant Funding

From left: Mike Kennealy, Mass. Secretary of Housing and Economic Development; Rosalin Acosta, Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development; Rep. Kenneth Gordon (D-Bedford); Rep. Michelle Ciccolo (D-Lexington); Governor Charlie Baker; Minuteman Superintendent-Director Kathleen A. Dawson; and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito in the Paul Revere Room at Minuteman on July 22, 2022. (Photo by Reba Saldanha)

LEXINGTON – Friday, July 22, 2022 – Today, Governor Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, and several members of the Governor’s Cabinet visited Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High School and awarded more than $32 million in grants to modernize equipment at career technical schools and programs statewide. 

View the photo slideshow of the Governor's visit to Minuteman!

As part of the award, Minuteman received $1,254,000 in grants from the Governor’s Workforce Skills Cabinet. Minuteman received $354,000 from the Skills Capital Grant to support equipment for Metal Fabrication and Welding for Minuteman High School and the Minuteman Technical Institute adult evening program. Additionally, Minuteman Technical Institute received $900,000 from the Career Technical Initiative Grant to support programming in Carpentry, CNC (Computer Numeric Control) Machine Operation, Plumbing and Welding.

Since 2020, the Minuteman has received more than $2.6 million in grant funding from the Workforce Skills Cabinet to support high school and adult career technical education programs.

Governor Baker takes a selfie with Marcus Demosthene, 13, of Stow (center), and Cameron Braun, 13, of Stow, in the automotive shop at Minuteman. Marcus and Cameron are participating in Minuteman's summer program for middle school students. (Photo by Reba Saldanha)

“We are very proud of the lasting impact these grants will have on our workforce and the future of the Commonwealth,” Governor Baker said. “Over the past several years, high schools, colleges and other educational institutions launched and expanded numerous training programs with Skills Capital Grants and created new opportunities for both young people and adults to gain vocational training in fields that are growing in the Commonwealth through the Career Technical Initiative.”

Students in the multimedia course at Minuteman's summer program for middle school students explain a film project they produced that was shown during Governor Baker's visit in Minuteman's state-of-the-art theater. The teacher pictured is Jack Lilburn. (Photo by Reba Saldanha)

Governor Baker observes Yegor Gondhalekur, 13, of Arlington, working on a pickup truck in Minuteman's automotive shop as part of the summer program for middle school students. (Photo by Reba Saldanha)

Minuteman Superintendent-Director Kathleen A. Dawson addresses the audience in the Paul Revere Conference Room before the Workforce Skills Cabinet grant awards were presented. (Photo by Reba Saldanha)

Minuteman High School Principal George Clement leads the tour with Governor Baker (right) and Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta (left). (Photo by Reba Saldanha)

Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta (left) speaks with Jake Malkasian, 20, of Northbridge, a welding student in the Minuteman Technical Institute adult program, along with Dr. Nancy Houle, Executive Director of Minuteman Technical Institute. (Photo by Reba Saldanha)

During this visit to Minuteman, Governor Baker met with middle school students exploring different career technical areas through Minuteman’s summer programs in a tour led by Superintendent-Director Dr. Kathleen A. Dawson and Minuteman High School Principal George Clement.

“Minuteman is tremendously grateful for the $2.6 million of support we have received since 2020 from Governor Baker’s Workforce Skills Cabinet,” Dr. Dawson said. “This funding is invaluable if we are to be leaders in the fourth industrial revolution. Our students are gaining the highly technical skills necessary to meet the demands of the labor market and setting them and their families on a trajectory for economic mobility.”

The Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and cabinet secretaries presented the grant awards to 70 educational institutions, including 22 vocational-technical school districts, in a ceremony in the Paul Revere Room at Minuteman. Massachusetts Education Secretary James Peyser, Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta, and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kenneally were in attendance.

Read the full announcement from the Governor’s Press Office.