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Gibson Technical Center in Reeds Spring Among Those Receiving State Grant

This Branson Tri-Lakes News File Photo is from Governor Mike Parson's visit to Gibson Technical Center last May.

Gibson Technical Center in Reeds Spring is among one of the programs benefiting from grants awarded to career and technical education programs.

According to a press release from Governor Mike Parson's office, Missouri’s Area Career Center Opportunity (MACCO) Grant provides funding to enhance the state’s Career and Technical Education capacity by providing more opportunities for CTE students while updating and modernizing career centers’ infrastructure and equipment. MACCO is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (APRA) and was included in Governor Parson's Fiscal Year 2023 budget proposal to the General Assembly.

Besides Gibson Technical Center, Ozarks Technical Community College's Career Center in Springfield and Scott Regional Technical Center in Monett are also awarded grant money. All three centers are getting the maximum amount, $400,000, to aid each of their technical and career programs. The grant required a 25% local match to be considered for funding. 

The complete release from the governor's office is below:

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has awarded several Missouri Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs with grant dollars to further support the important work that these programs do to ensure all Missouri students are prepared for success upon graduation and further contribute to developing Missouri’s workforce.
"Career and technical education is critical to our workforce development goals here in the State of Missouri," Governor Parson said. "Every day the necessity for a post secondary degree, trade, or industry recognized credential is growing for good-paying jobs across the state, and we want to support Missourians as they seek to learn new skills, especially in our career and technical education programs." 

MACCO is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (APRA) and was included in Governor Parson's Fiscal Year 2023 budget proposal to the General Assembly. MACCO grants local education agencies (LEAs) up to $400,000 for the following purposes:
•    Create new high-demand and emerging programs 
•    Construct a new area career center building 
•    Renovate or build an addition to an existing area career center 
•    Update or expand current CTE programs 
•    Improve infrastructure for safety and equipment needs 
•    Upgrade equipment and instructional technology 
The grant’s funds must be used to enhance or extend area career centers’ capacities to increase students’ knowledge and skills needed to gain employment in current or emerging fields, continue their education, or re-train for new business and industry opportunities. The grant required LEAs to submit an application and match 25 percent of the awarded MACCO funds.  
 

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