$4.4 million grant extends funding for Advanced Manufacturing Training Expansion Program
in Lynn & across Massachusetts’ North Shore
Additional $1 million grant supported expansion of the Advanced Manufacturing Center
at Lynn Vocational Technical Institute
BOSTON, MASS.– October 28, 2021 – The GE Foundation today announced a $4.4 million grant to extend funding through 2025 for the Advanced Manufacturing Training Expansion Program (AMTEP). Launched in 2019 with the Baker-Polito Administration, the goal of AMTEP is to triple the training footprint by reaching more than 900 high school students and adult learners and building a more diverse, sustainable, “ready-to-work” pipeline in Lynn and across Massachusetts’ North Shore. The GE Foundation also contributed $1 million to support the expansion of the state-of-the-art Advanced Manufacturing Center at Lynn Vocational Technical School (LVTI), which was bolstered by a match from the Baker-Polito Administration and announced today during a ribbon cutting at the facility.
“We are proud to join the Baker-Polito Administration in redoubling efforts to address the advanced manufacturing skills gap across the North Shore, a region which continues to grow and require additional talent,” said Linda Boff, President of GE Foundation. “We are committed to providing high school students and adult learners with the training and resources they need to succeed in these careers.”
“Fostering a robust talent pipeline on the North Shore and across Massachusetts is key to ensuring that the Commonwealth remains competitive in the post-pandemic global economy,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We are pleased to partner with employers like GE and training providers like Lynn Vocational Technical School to close the skills gap and create opportunities for both young people and adults in high-demand fields like advanced manufacturing.”
“We can make progress in closing skills and achievement gaps by inspiring high school students to consider careers in STEM fields like advanced manufacturing,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “This model of a private employer partnering with educational institutions and workforce entities to train their future employees, with the state investing resources like Skills Capital Grants, is proven and effective.”
“The efforts of the Baker-Polito Administration’s Workforce Skills Cabinet continue to create pathways for vo-tech students, high school students, and adult learners to enter high-demand, high-wage careers,” said Mike Kennealy, Secretary of Housing and Economic Development. “There was an exceptional level of collaboration to build this Advanced Manufacturing Training Center at Lynn Tech and launch the Advanced Manufacturing Training Expansion Program, and our Administration challenges other regions of the state to replicate these partnerships.”
To date, AMTEP has reached 205 participants for the adult programming and is supporting 130 youth in machining pathways at LVTI, Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School, and Gloucester High School. AMTEP expanded capacity by adding six certified trainers to deliver advanced manufacturing programming across the three locations. The program is also enabling more diverse community members to enter the advanced manufacturing workforce, with women comprising 15 percent of participants and more than half being racially and ethnically diverse.
During 2020, AMTEP pivoted between remote learning and hybrid models to continue enrollment, completion and employment among candidates. Throughout the pandemic, the program hosted virtual job fairs with 11 local employers and to date, more than 70 percent of program graduates have secured employment in advanced manufacturing positions.
AMTEP is a partnership with the Northeast Advanced Manufacturing Consortium and the Essex County Community Foundation. To learn more about the program and how to get involved, visit https://www.namcnetwork.com/about-amtep.
About the GE Foundation
The GE Foundation, an independent charitable organization funded by GE, is committed to transforming our communities and shaping the diverse workforce of tomorrow by leveraging the power of GE. Through Next Engineers, we are increasing the diversity of young people in engineering. In our hometown of Boston, we are working to improve workforce diversity, attack the opioid crisis, and drive STEM education in public schools. We are also inspiring others to act by connecting GE people with communities through our Matching Gifts Program and Disaster Relief. The GE STAR awards provide financial support to children of eligible children of GE employees for their achievements. Learn more at www.gefoundation.com or follow the us on Twitter at @GE_Foundation.