Dykema: Keefe Tech to get $25K

Massachusetts Secretary for Administration and Finance Glen Shor, Secretary of Education Matthew Malone and Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Rachel Kaprielian announced $1.3 million in grants to expand vocational programs at the State House June 3. 

The South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical School District received $25,000, and Joe O’Brien attended, representing Keefe Tech. 

“Investing in vocational education is important to ensuring the success of students both academically and in the workplace,” said state Rep. Carolyn Dykema. “This funding, which I was pleased to support in the budget, allows Keefe Tech to continue to provide tremendous opportunities to its students, including those from Hopkinton and Holliston.”

The grants are provided through the Patrick Administration’s Vocational Opportunity Challenge (VOC) grant program, which provides one-time funding to qualifying institutions to purchase equipment for new and expanding vocational programs. All vocational school districts and 70 percent of schools with Chapter 74-approved vocational programs applied for grant funding, but only 34 school districts were selected. Ten occupational areas were included in the grant, and the South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical School District received $25,000 for their culinary arts program.

“We are working hard to improve access to career readiness programs and by affording schools, faculty and their students with opportunities to practice on industry relevant equipment we are helping more students to succeed,” said Secretary Malone.

Submitted by the office of state Rep. Carolyn Dykema.