Bohemian Foundation and Larimer County have announced that they are awarding grants of $4 million to Thompson School District and Poudre School District to enhance regional workforce development. Each entity is providing $1 million to each of the school districts, for a total of $2 million per district. The grant from Larimer County is being provided through funding allocated by the American Rescue Plan Act.
The workforce projects will be collaborative in nature and aim to greatly bolster opportunities across the region. They will focus on career pathways in healthcare, manufacturing, automotive, and aviation, with a special focus on traditionally underrepresented populations.
The $4 million grant from the Bohemian Foundation and Larimer County will support a phased-in approach to expanding facilities needed to support student learning and attaining credentials that promote economic mobility. Numerous partners and grant opportunities that support Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathway development are providing additional funding for the effort. Collaboration between the school districts will yield operational efficiencies, allowing for economies of scale and decreased redundancies.
“Bohemian Foundation is deeply invested in promoting economic mobility and supporting environments where youth thrive,” said Cheryl Zimlich, Bohemian Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are grateful for the opportunity to work with both school districts and numerous community partners to provide youth with inspiring, supportive, and creative education and life opportunities.”
“Today’s announcement highlights the critical need to support our youth through collaborative efforts in workforce development,” said Chair of the Larimer Board of County Commissioners John Kafalas. “With the grant provided by Bohemian Foundation and Larimer County, our community is well-positioned to enhance education in Thompson and Poudre School Districts and to create exciting new career opportunities for students.”
New Opportunities in Career and Technical Education
For Thompson and Poudre school districts, the project provides a unique collaborative opportunity to bridge the gap between high school and career pathways for youth across district boundaries. The funding will be utilized to increase the quality of the learning experience for all CTE participants and to increase the total number of students currently enrolled in each impacted pathway.
“Students, families, and community members have been exceptionally supportive of the growth of our career and technical education and workforce development programs,” said Thompson School District Superintendent Dr. Marc Schaffer. “These excellent programs impact not only the individuals who participate but ultimately the community as a whole. I am very excited about this new project, which will allow us to work together to create a lasting impact for many people across our region.”
In Thompson School District, the funding will be utilized to construct and develop a new first responder pathway for students who are interested in becoming an emergency medical technician or pursuing a career in law enforcement or firefighting. Poudre School District plans to use the grant funding to enhance opportunities for students to earn certifications and college credit in advanced manufacturing through two programs housed at Poudre High School: Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools (P-TECH), which allows students to earn an associate degree while still enrolled in high school, and Futures Lab, a district-wide Career and Technical Education (CTE) program with pathways in multiple areas. This fall, PSD will be renaming the Futures Lab the PSD Career Tech Center.
“PSD wants all students to graduate with options. That means providing them with the tools and learning opportunities they need to pursue their passions. This grant will help fulfill that mission and build a better future for our career and technical education students,” said Superintendent Brian Kingsley.
Both school districts have committed to the long-range sustainability of these programs through staffing, transportation, and operational support. Additional project details will be announced soon.
For more information on the regional workforce development project and associated grant funding, please contact Michael Hausmann, TSD Chief Communications Officer, at 970-613-5011 or at michael.hausmann@tsd.org.