Essex Tech was awarded more than $1.4 million in funding from the Baker-Polito administration to expand training opportunities.

HATHORNE – Superintendent Heidi Riccio is pleased to announce that Essex Tech has received a $1.5 million grant from the Baker-Polito Administration to expand training opportunities.

Essex Tech has been awarded a $1.2 million Career Technical Initiative (CTI) grant for the NightHawks Adult Education Program, which is designed to expand — and add to — the existing NightHawks adult education program to develop career options for high-priority industries in need of training, credentials and a workforce for adults.

NightHawks CTI programs include Advanced Manufacturing, Automotive Technology, Auto Collision Repair, Carpentry, Construction Craftsman, Culinary Arts, Electro-Mechanical Assembly, HVAC, Plumbing Level 1 and Welding. MassHire North Shore Career Center is a collaborative partner in this program, which provides NightHawks students with extensive job placement opportunities through employer meet-and-greets, presentations, company visits and career fairs.

“Partnering with MasHire North Shore Career Center has greatly increased our employer engagement, often resulting in multiple job offers for our NightHawks students,” said Bonnie Carr, Director of Workforce Development at Essex Tech.

Essex Tech was also awarded a $242,000 Skills Capital grant. The Skills Capital Grant Program is designed to increase access to vocational and technical education for educational institutions and reduce skills gaps in high-priority industry sectors, including the electrical field. With this Skills Capital grant, Essex Tech has increased opportunities for electrical students to work in local communities by purchasing electrical equipment for off-campus projects.

Launched in 2020, the Career Technical Initiative aims to train 20,000 new skilled workers in key trades and technical jobs over the next four years.

Since 2015, 477 Skills Capital grants totaling approximately $129 million have been awarded to 194 schools and educational institutions across the Commonwealth. Around 50,000 students across the Commonwealth have directly benefited from Skills Capital grants.

“The Baker-Polito administration is a very strong supporter of technical education and Essex Tech,” said Superintendent Riccio. “Because of that support, our students and alumni have developed skills that lead to high-paying jobs in high-demand industries.”

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