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GACTC wins competitive grant

Funds will provide hands-on learning equipment

The Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center won a competitive state grant of $49,800, to shore up equipment that will give students hands-on training for in-demand local jobs.

The Pennsylvania Depar­tment of Education is awarding nearly $1.2 million in grants to 38 career and technical centers.

The amount received by the GACTC is about the maximum grant offered to a single recipient.

The Greater Johnstown Career and Technical Center received $35,517 from the same program.

In addition to the grants, an additional $10 million for career and technical education was included in the 2018-19 state budget, the first increase in 10 years, according to a statement from Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration.

The GACTC plans to use the grant for upgrades to its precision machining program, specifically by add­ing new computer numerical-controlled machinery.

The Greater Johnstown CTC will use its grant to purchase two mini-CNC machines, a computerized vehicle diagnostic tool and an analytical balance designed to measure amounts in the sub-milligram range, state Rep. Frank Burns, D-Johnstown, said in a release.

The grants must be matched dollar-for-dollar from a local source, which could include local school funds or contributions from businesses and industry partners. In the case of the GACTC, local funds were matched from its budget, said the center’s Executive Director Eric Palmer.

“That doubles our money,” Palmer said. “We are thankful to the governor and people in Harrisburg for appreciating the value of career and technical education. We are excited to see full bipartisan support for career and technical education, because it makes a tremendous impact to local economies.”

“To expand, regional manufacturers will have to continue to innovate,” Palmer said. “We hope GACTC students will come along to push that innovation forward. Technology is evolving fast, and we want to make sure we are offering Blair students the most up-to-date equipment, to promote innovation in the manufacturing sector in the region.”

Wolf said there are demands for skilled workers throughout Pennsyl­vania. “This equipment will help students get the training they need for good jobs in their local communities. This will further strengthen our talented and educated workforce and continue to bring jobs to Pennsylvania while making our economy stronger.”

Mirror Staff Writer Russ O’Reilly is at 946-7435.

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