ACE Center at Hermitage to receive state funding for new equipment

Henrico County’s Advanced Career Education Center at Hermitage High School will receive a computer numerical control and waterjet training system as part of a $37,500 competitive grant funded by the state, Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction James Lane announced Thursday.

In total, the state will fund $600,000 in grant requests from 16 high schools and technical centers statewide to upgrade equipment for their career and technical education programs. Each school or center will receive $37,500 to purchase new equipment and make other necessary improvements.

“Career and technical education programs provide deeper-learning opportunities for students and prepare them for success, regardless of the college or career pathways they choose after high school,” Lane said. “The relevance and quality of CTE programs are enhanced when students are able to learn and demonstrate their skills on equipment that is up-to-date and representative of what they will encounter in the workplace

“With this funding, the commonwealth continues to carry out its commitment to making the critical investments necessary to give students the tools and training they need to be competitive in the 21st-century economy.”