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Lycoming Career and Technical Center, Hughesville, has received a competitive grant of over $22,000 from the state's department of education for the purchase of new equipment to train students in high needs occupations.
Lyco CTC was one of 32 centers and vocational technical schools in the state to receive one of the grants, which totalled $1.2 million.
The purpose of the grants is to purchase equipment aligned with the needs of local employers, according to a release from PDE.
Lyco CTC will use the grant to purchase a new tire mounting machine for the auto mechanic program and a simulated person for the health careers department, according to Eric Butler, executive director of Lyco CTC.
"We work to keep all of our programs up to industry standards so that our students can graduate and are prepared to get jobs," Butler said.
The tire mounting machine will allow students to learn how to work with lower profile tires as well as larger truck tire, Butler said.
Students in the health careers, such as pre-nursing will work with the simulated person, which, according to Butler is programmed to simulate all kinds of health issues.
"It is the latest technology," he added.
The grant will be matched by funds from CTC's budget.
The high-need occupations were determined by the workforce investment board, Butler said, which pinpoints jobs in an area that are growing and can offer a sustaining wage.