The Collinsville Area Vocational Center of Collinsville, Illinois, will be receiving a $25 million state grant to expand its training capabilities, reports the Belleview-News Democrat.
Operating out of Collinsville High School, the program provides vocational training to hundreds of students each year in a variety of different trades, currently teaching 540 students from nine different high schools in the area. Areas of training include automotive repair, as well as welding, cybersecurity, and healthcare.
The state grant will allow the program to increase its workspace and teach more students. More than 100 students were turned away last year, with that number climbing to 170 this year.
Having first been constructed in 1971, the current building will be renovated alongside the construction of a new building. It will allow the program to teach 260 more students annually. The center will also look at expanding its offerings to more high schools and creating private partnerships for classroom and equipment sponsorships.
“We kind of recognized that if we’re going to be that regional resource to help students find that initial first step into the workforce, we needed to expand and update the facility,” explained Director Joe McGinnis.
