Shawsheen Valley Technical School in Billerica, MA, is taking a giant leap forward in welding education. The school recently received a $1 million Skills Capital Lab Modernization grant from the Healey-Driscoll Administration. This funding, part of a $17 million statewide initiative, will transform Shawsheen’s metal fabrication and joining technologies shop, bringing it up to par with modern industry standards.
The grant will cover significant infrastructure upgrades, such as improved ventilation, upgraded lighting, and new welding stations. A dedicated area for Grade 9 students will introduce early skills development, ensuring that all students can begin hands-on training with electric arc welding—a skill in high demand—right from their first year. The new facilities will better align with curriculum needs while increasing student interest in welding careers.
Lead Welding Instructor Alex Guarino summed up the impact: “With these upgrades, we can offer students training on equipment that matches the standards they’ll encounter in the field. It’s a huge step toward preparing them for real-world demands.”
With prior grants already funding top-tier equipment like Miller welding packages and Siegmund fixture tables, this new investment ensures that Shawsheen Tech stays at the forefront of career and technical education, preparing students for success in the evolving welding industry.
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