30-03-2025
Forest Hills School District, Admiral Peary AVTS receiving state grants, officials say
EBENSBURG - Two area school district will receive $499,120 in state grant money to help them with employment and training opportunities for students planning to enter the workforce after high school, state Rep. Frank Burns, D-East Taylor Township and state Sen. Wayne Langerholc Jr., R-Richland Township announced on Saturday.
These Schools-to-Work grants, awarded to Forest Hills School District and Admiral Peary Area Vocational Technical School from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, will help schools expand pre-apprenticeships, classroom training and job shadowing initiatives.
"College isn't for everyone, and this funding will help those students who choose differently so they can avoid barriers to employment and work toward their future career path,' Burns said. 'It's important to make sure students are prepared for the high-demand jobs by getting the hands-on training they need to enter the workforce in these careers, which also gives employers access to a qualified workforce.'
Langerholc said he was pleased to see this funding secured for the expansion of workforce development programs at Forest Hills School District and Admiral Peary AVTS.
'These programs will help address the workforce shortage facing our area by preparing students to enter apprenticeships programs in critical fields that support our regional economy," he said.
Forest Hills School District will use its $250,000 for pre-apprenticeship training in Computer-Aided Design and Drafting and Industrial Manufacturing.
The Future-Ready Ranger initiative creates a structured pathway with STEM/CADD education in seventh and eighth grades and specialized training by ninth grade.
Admiral Peary ATVS will use its $239,120 grant to enhance its welding pre-apprenticeship program with new training materials, safety gear, welding machines and work with partnered apprenticeship programs to improve enrollment and transition statistics.
Both legislators said they supported increasing funding for vo-tech, career and technical education and apprenticeships by nearly $65 million in the past two state budgets.
