On December 21, 2021, Governor Tom Wolf announced the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has awarded nearly $1.5 million in competitive grants to 39 Career and Technical Centers (CTC) and three school districts in 28 counties to purchase new equipment aligned to training students for jobs in in high-demand through the Career and Technical Education Equipment Grant program.

The list of recipients can be found on PDE’s website.

The maximum grant is $50,000, and each grant must be matched dollar for dollar from a local source, which could include local school funds or contributions from business and industry partners.

This funding furthers the Wolf Administration’s commitment to providing numerous pathways to success for all of Pennsylvania’s learners. To support this effort, the administration has invested in CTCs and other jobs programs, expanded apprenticeships that provide an income during training and realigned workforce development programs.

Over the course of the Wolf Administration, PDE has provided $9.3 million in funding to 249 applicants under the Career and Technical Education Equipment Grant program. Since 2015, the number of career and technical education students earning industry-recognized credentials has increased by 38.7 percent and the number of credentials earned by students enrolled in CTE programs has grown by 33.6 percent.

There are more than 80 CTCs in Pennsylvania that offer a combination of classes and hands-on learning in programs approved by the Department of Education. Thousands of students earn industry credentials or certifications for local jobs in high demand, so they graduate on a path for success.