New Bedford High School has landed a $250,000 state grant to build a state-of-the-art Marine Technology Laboratory.

The new facility will prepare students for careers in marine and maritime industries. Skills training will be provided within the school’s Career Vocational Technical Education Program. The Massachusetts Skills Capital Grant was announced by the Baker-Polito administration.

The NBHS Marine Technology Laboratory will be outfitted with welding training equipment, virtual welding and diesel engine training equipment. To date, New Bedford High School has been awarded $650,000 in Skills Capital Grants since 2019. Previous awards include $125,000 for the school’s finance lab and $275,000 for robotics logistics equipment.

“At a critical time in our Commonwealth, these Skills Capital Grants will increase flexibility and support for schools and educational institutions to launch new programs and help more students develop important technical skills and prepare them for high-demand industries,” Governor Charlie Baker stated.

“It is our goal to maximize the opportunities in the emerging Blue Economy by being the flagship training center for marine careers,” said Christopher Cummings, manager of the school’s Career Vocational Technical Education program. “Our career technical students will be well positioned to obtain maritime industry careers with the training they will receive in this advanced technical laboratory.”

Superintendent Thomas Anderson commended NBHS staff for winning the competitive grant and thanked program partners, including the Community Boating Center, New Bedford Port Authority, Quinn Fisheries/East Coast Fabrication and the MassHire Greater New Bedford Workforce Board.

Among other things, New Bedford High School’s Marine Technology Lab will train students in vessel construction and diesel engine technology. The high school has offered marine construction programs in partnership with the Community Boating Center in New Bedford, and now plans to expand its maritime offerings.

The program offers career pathway development for students interested maritime industry. Also known as the “Blue Economy”, the marine sector is identified as an emerging growth career area by the MassHire Greater New Bedford Workforce Board’s regional labor market blueprint.

“We are delighted to receive this third Skills Capital Grant Award to support the expansion of our Career Vocational Technical Education program, and grateful for Governor Baker’s continued support for NBHS”, said Bernadette Coelho, headmaster of New Bedford High School.  “As the City of New Bedford has a rich history in the marine industry, it is only appropriate that NBHS serves as a career training center for new opportunities in the field”.

New Bedford High School offers a broad range of career vocational technical education programming and is affiliated with the National Academy Foundation.  In addition to marine programs, the school offers career pathway programs in Instructional Technology, Digital Media, Health Sciences, Engineering, Early Childhood Education, Criminal Justice, Finance, Business Technology, and Hospitality.

Those wishing more information about Career and Technical Education at New Bedford High School are invited to contact Christopher Cummings, Manager of CVTE at 508 997 4511, ext. 20799.

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