The Ticonderoga Revitalization Alliance has applied for and received a grant for $95,000 from the US Department of Agriculture’s Rural Business Development Grants. The funding will be provided to the Ticonderoga Schools to support tuitions of Ticonderoga High School seniors for attendance to the BOCES CV-TEC career and technical education programs.
The application and grant are part of the Alliance’s multifaceted Trade Education Access Program to help the school counselor’s office promote careers in the Trades. According to Donna Wotton, Executive Director of Ti-Alliance, “In Ticonderoga and the surrounding area there is a significant shortage of service providers, especially in the residential construction, maintenance, electrical, plumbing, masonry, and roofing trades that support our residents. At the same time, these are some of the highest paying jobs in the region and present a great opportunity for our young people to live and work here in fields with high wages and great stability. We’re doing everything we can to help the school promote these fields and remove any barriers for students that want to study in the Trades.”
Other components of the program include an expanded trade section in the spring career fair, the Career and Technical Education Quick Reference Guide produced earlier this year, an in-classroom mentorship program, and a Trade Education Scholarship Fund to be available for the 2020 school year.
“This grant is a huge help to our school budget in the 2019/2020 school year. The cost of tuition and transportation to the Mineville CV-TEC program is one of our single largest budget line items, and receiving nearly $100,000 to support these students is amazing. We’re grateful to Ti-Alliance for all their help in securing this funding and supporting our counseling staff throughout the year,” said John Donohue, Acting Superintendent of Ticonderoga Schools. We look forward to working with them in 2019/2020.
For additional information about Ti-Alliance or the Trade Education Access Program, visit the Ti-Alliance website at www.ticonderoga-alliance.org or contact Donna Wotton, Executive Director, at donna@ticonderoga-alliance.org, or 518-543-6782.
