Photo caption: Four Nashoba Tech students attended the grant announcement. From left are Harrison Mayotte of Chelmsford (Programming & Web Development), Bethany Lampron of Pepperell (Advanced Manufacturing), Peter Blaisdell of Billerica (Engineering Technology) and Meghan Nicholson of Pepperell (Engineering Technology).
Nashoba Tech has received $3.75 million in the latest – and last – round of Skills Capital Grants under Gov. Charlie Baker.
Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito awarded nearly $51 million in grants, which brings the total to more than $200 million in Baker’s eight years as governor of Massachusetts, to upgrade technology and lab spaces for students, expand career programs for young people and adults, and increase capacity in workforce training programs across the state.
Nashoba Tech will put the $3.75 million toward expansion and integration of the Advanced Manufacturing, Robotics, Programming & Web Development and Engineering programs. The school will undertake an expansion and modernization project to add 8,750 square feet to the building to create a state-of-the-art manufacturing, robotics and design training facility that will train more than 200 traditional day students and adults in its Career Training Institute program.
Superintendent Dr. Denise Pigeon said during the Baker-Polito administration’s time in office, the Skills Capital Grant program has “transformed the Nashoba Valley Technical School District by upgrading equipment in so many of our programs.”
Dr. Pigeon said this most recent award “will enable Nashoba Tech to physically integrate the Engineering, Robotics and Programming technical program labs with the Advanced Manufacturing program lab, something we have been unable to do due to building space constraints.”
“Additionally, it provides the opportunity to expand other classroom space and add student seats in several programs to address the high demand for participation,” she added.
“The new facility will bring together design and production,” Director of Curriculum Gabriella White said, “allowing students to experience the process of creating a product in the Engineering lab and moving into production. Students will be able to move between the four programs, specializing in their individual fields but gaining an understanding and appreciation for how industry utilizes all four components – engineering, robotics, manufacturing and programming – making them stronger candidates in the workforce.”
Vocational & Technical Director Jeffrey Scheminger said the grant “allows us to provide significant benefits for all students at Nashoba Tech.”
“The practical learning and hands-on opportunities provided by combining Robotics, Advanced Manufacturing, Programming and Engineering are significant,” he added. “Job opportunities abound in the commonwealth for workers with these 21st-century skills.”
Industry partners with Nashoba Tech in putting the grant to use include Insulet Corporation in Acton, TUV Rhineland in Littleton, Keystone Precision & Engineering in Pepperell, TRAK Machine Tools in Boxborough and Red Hat in Westford, as well as the Middlesex 3 Coalition, Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce, Northeast Advanced Manufacturing Consortium, Central/North Central Regional Advanced Manufacturing Consortium, Mount Wachusett Community College, Middlesex Community College and three MassHire Workforce boards.
Nashoba Tech’s district includes Ayer, Chelmsford, Groton, Littleton, Pepperell, Shirley, Townsend and Westford.