Minuteman Lands $495,000 State Grant to Help New Advanced Manufacturing Program

PHOTO CAPTION: Celebrating success. Minuteman Superintendent Dr. Edward Bouquillon and Career and Technical Education Director Michelle Roche celebrate the award of another major state grant to support the school’s new Advanced Manufacturing program.

Minuteman Lands $495,000 State Grant to Help New Advanced Manufacturing Program

LOWELL – For the second year in a row, Minuteman High School has landed a major competitive grant from the state to help support its new Advanced Manufacturing & Metal Fabrication program.

The $495,000 grant was announced by Governor Charles D. Baker during an awards ceremony at Greater Lowell Technical High School on March 3. The Governor and his Workforce Skills Cabinet announced grants totaling $11.8 million from the new Massachusetts Skills Capital Grant Program. Governor Baker was joined at the event by Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Ronald Walker II, Education Secretary James Peyser, and Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash.

Some 64 vocational-technical high schools, community colleges, and traditional public school districts applied for grants. Only 32 were successful.

“Our school and its students owe a big debt of gratitude to the Baker Administration and the Workforce Skills Cabinet for making this investment in our future,” said Dr. Edward A. Bouquillon, Minuteman’s Superintendent. “Starting new high-quality career and technical programs isn’t easy and it isn’t cheap. This state grant will go a long way toward making this new program possible.”

Dr. Bouquillon said the state grant will help keep down costs for local taxpayers.

Last year, Minuteman received $500,000 from the Skills Capital Grant Program, the largest grant possible. This year, it received $495,000.

With this year’s grant, Minuteman will purchase a host of industry-standard 3D printers and precision measurement and inspection devices to enable students to learn about the growing field of Additive Manufacturing and to hone their skills in the areas of precision measurement and quality control.

Over the next few months, the school will be ordering and installing the equipment, hiring a teacher, and finalizing the program design. The school is planning to start the new program in the fall.

The UMass Lowell College of Engineering is assisting with implementation, with guidance from an active Program Advisory Committee of business, education, and community leaders that will review curriculum, equipment, instruction, and industry trends.

Instruction will be delivered at Minuteman High School by state-licensed teachers and will follow state curriculum frameworks and guidelines from the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS).

Pending local permitting, Minuteman is planning to break ground this spring on a new 628-student high school consisting of two Career Academies supporting a total of 16 high-quality career and technical education programs.

The new high school is planned for the Lincoln side of Minuteman’s property.

Minuteman is an award-winning regional high school that integrates robust academic and career & technical learning to deliver a revolutionary competitive advantage. The school serves a diverse student body with multiple learning styles, expanding opportunities for college and career success.