For Immediate Release

Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

GLTS Receives Skills Capital Grant for Health Careers Program

LAWRENCE — Superintendent John Lavoie is pleased to announce that Greater Lawrence Tech received a $125,000 Skills Capital Grant from Gov. Charlie Baker this afternoon to expand its Health Careers program.

Skills Capital Grants, which are administered through Gov. Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito’s office, are designed to help high schools, colleges and other educational institutions invest in the most up-to-date training equipment to give their students an advantage when they continue in their chosen field or particular area of study. The awards cover a broad range of fields, from construction and engineering to healthcare and hospitality.

During a ceremony at Shawsheen Valley Technical High School, Gov. Baker, along with Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Mike Kennealy and Secretary of Education James Peyser recognized grant recipients.

Gov. Baker spoke of the competitiveness of the Skills Capital Grants, recognizing the schools that earned grants due to their successful programming and relationships with local employers and businesses.

“I am constantly amazed and impressed with the quality of the students and the quality of the programming that I see when I have a chance to spend some time at these schools,” Gov. Baker said.

The GLTS Health Careers program incorporates certified nursing assistant students and those in medical assisting. To expand the Health Careers program, the grant funding will be used to purchase new equipment and programming, including an electric Hoyer lift, CPR feedback manikins, practice management software and electronic health record systems, a geriatric simulation suit, virtual dissection program, computer on wheels, and baby, pregnancy and mental health simulation devices.

“There continues to be a number of open positions in the healthcare industry because of a lack of skilled/qualified candidates,” Superintendent Lavoie said. “With this Skills Capital Grant, we will be able to ensure that students are trained in the latest technological advances that will set them up for post-secondary education and careers. Thank you to Gov. Baker and Lt. Gov. Polito for supporting GLTS in its mission to provide a 21st century education to students.”

The Skills Capital Grants are awarded by Gov. Baker’s Workforce Skills Cabinet. Gov. Baker and Lt. Gov. Polito created the Workforce Skills Cabinet in 2015, bringing together the secretaries of education, labor and workforce development, and housing and economic development in order to align education, economic development and workforce policies, and to strategize around how to meet employers’ demand for skilled workers in each region of the state.