LYNN— Lynn Vocational Technical Institute has been awarded a Career Technical Initiative (CTI) implementation grant for the third year in a row.
The CTI grant program partners with Career and Technical Education (CTE) Schools, and is aimed to “provide adult learners, especially unemployed and underemployed individuals from underserved populations and underrepresented groups, with career training and technical skills to meet the needs of Massachusetts employers.” The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) oversees the CTI program, which is administered by Commonwealth Corporation, a quasi-public agency of EOLWD.
“We are pleased to utilize the resources at Lynn Tech to provide critical opportunities to adult learners. We appreciate the Commonwealth’s continued support of our CTE program that gives students career training and technical skills to meet the needs of employers in the region,” said Lynn Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Evonne S. Alvarez.
This year, Lynn Vocational Technical Institute has been given $720,000 to provide training to 72 participants for Auto Tech, Welding, and Plumbing positions. They will partner with Herb Chambers Co, McGovern Automotive Group, Pride Motor Group, Cranney Home Services, Robert W. Irvine & Sons Inc., North Shore Heating Supply Co., Innovent Technologies, and J.R. Welding & Fabrication.
Lynn received $490,000 for CTI funding in 2024, and $200,000 in 2023. The increase in funding for 2025 is because Lynn Tech now running its plumbing program for two semesters instead of one, and the institution now funding an Upskill Navigator position through MassHire Northshore.
“The CTI program is a proven success, transforming the lives of our residents and meeting a growing need in our community,” said Mayor Jared C. Nicholson. “We are incredibly grateful for this partnership with the state and LVTI and this opportunity to expand the program with additional funding, which will ensure we can continue to empower even more residents and build an even stronger workforce for the future.”
David Gagner, Cooperative Education Coordinator and CTI Director at Lynn Vocational Technical Institute, weighed in on the importance of this year’s CTI funding for LVTI.
“The demand for these trades are still there. They’re good paying, high quality jobs, but you have to be willing to go into these programs, be trained, and work your way up. We are helping our community find good paying jobs that require training so they can build a career,” he said.
“When you have a community that can make a good wage for themselves and take care of their families, it makes the community strong as a whole. We believe that Lynn has a lot to offer, and those jobs should be accessible to our community,” he added.
