Bohemian Foundation and Larimer County have announced that they are awarding grants in the amount of $4 million to Thompson School District and 茄子视频 to enhance regional workforce development. Each entity is providing $1 million to each of the school districts for a total of $2 million per district. The grant from Larimer County is being provided through funding allocated by the American Rescue Plan Act.
The workforce projects will be collaborative in nature and aim to bolster opportunities across the region. They will focus on career pathways in healthcare, manufacturing, automotive, and aviation, with a special focus on traditionally underrepresented populations.
The $4 million grant from Bohemian Foundation and Larimer County will support a phased-in approach to expanding facilities needed to support student learning and attaining credentials that promote economic mobility. Numerous partners and grant opportunities that support Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathway development are providing additional funding for the effort. Collaboration between the school districts will yield operational efficiencies, allowing for economies of scale and decreased redundancies.
“Bohemian Foundation is deeply invested in promoting economic mobility and supporting environments where youth thrive,” said Cheryl Zimlich, Bohemian Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are grateful for the opportunity to work with both school districts and numerous community partners to provide youth with inspiring, supportive, and creative education and life opportunities.”
"Today's announcement highlights the critical need to support our youth through collaborative efforts in workforce development," said Chair of the Larimer Board of County Commissioners John Kafalas. "With the grant provided by Bohemian Foundation and Larimer County, our community is well-positioned to enhance education in Thompson and 茄子视频s and to create exciting new career opportunities for students."
For Thompson and 茄子视频s, the project provides a unique collaborative opportunity to bridge the gap between high school and career pathways for youth across district boundaries. The funding will help increase the quality of the learning experience for all CTE participants, as well as help increase the total number of students currently enrolled in each impacted pathway.
PSD plans to use the grant funding to enhance opportunities for students to earn certifications and college credit in advanced manufacturing through two programs housed at Poudre High School:
- Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools (P-TECH), which allows students to earn an associate degree while still enrolled in high school, and
- Futures Lab, a district-wide Career and Technical Education (CTE) program with pathways in multiple areas. This fall, PSD will rename the Futures Lab the PSD Career Tech Center.
“PSD wants all students to graduate with options. That means providing them with the tools and learning opportunities they need to pursue their passions. This grant will help fulfill that mission and build a better future for our career and technical education students,” said PSD Superintendent Brian Kingsley.
In Thompson School District, the funding will be used to construct and develop a new first responder pathway for students interested in becoming an emergency medical technician or in pursuing a career in law enforcement or firefighting.
“Students, families and community members have been exceptionally supportive of the growth of our career and technical education and workforce development programs,” said TSD Superintendent Dr. Marc Schaffer. “These excellent programs impact not only the individuals who participate, but ultimately the community as a whole. I am very excited about this new project, which will allow us to work together to create a lasting impact for many people across our region."
Both school districts have committed to the long-range sustainability of these programs through staffing, transportation, and operational support. Additional project details will be announced soon.
For more information:
Larimer County
Michelle Bird, Public Affairs Director
970-498-7015 | mbird@larimer.org
Thompson School District
Michael Hausmann, Chief Communications Officer
970-613-5011 | michael.hausmann@tsd.org
茄子视频
Emily Shockley, Communications Coordinator
970-218-8141 | eshockley@psdschools.org