Old Colony, Bristol-Plymouth receive millions in state grants

ROCHESTER — Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical and Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational Technical high schools received a combined $3.5 million in state funds, the Healey-Driscoll Administration has announced.

Old Colony received $2 million, and Bristol-Plymouth was awarded $1.5 million. This grant is part of a state-wide effort to expand technical education programs and upgrade equipment, technology and lab spaces at included schools.

 “This investment will expand capacity, create new opportunities and ensure more students can gain the skills they need to succeed, while strengthening our workforce and supporting employers across the state,” Governor Maura Healey said in a statement. 

 Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School has been awarded a $2 million grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Education to modernize its Machine and Tool Technology program, an investment that will enhance student learning while reducing costs for the district’s member towns.

The Old Colony grant will fund the replacement of equipment that, in many cases, dates back to the school’s opening in 1975, Superintendent-Director Aaron Polansky. The upgrades will bring the program in line with current industry standards and ensure students graduate with the skills and experience needed for careers in advanced manufacturing, he said.

"The cost savings to our member towns will be significant. We are talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars saved for each of our five member communities," Polansky said. "Just as important, these upgrades will bring our Machine and Tool Technology program into the present day and ensure students are learning on the same types of equipment used in industry."