The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has awarded a $400,000 grant to local technical schools. Those schools are the Carrollton Area Career Center, the Boonslick Technical Education Center, Lex La-Ray Technical Center, the State Fair Career and Technology Center and the Warrensburg Area Career Center.

Missouri’s Area Career Opportunity (MACCO) Grant provides funding to enhance the state’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) capacity by providing opportunities for CTE students while updating and modernizing career centers’ infrastructure and equipment.

MACCO is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act and grants local education agencies up to $400,000 for creating new high demand and emerging programs, construct new area career center buildings, renovate or build an existing area career center, update or expand current CTE programs and improve infrastructure for safety and equipment.

The grant’s funds must be used to enhance or extend area career centers’ capacity to increase students’ knowledge and skills needed to gain employment in current or emerging fields, continuing their education, or re-training for new business and industry opportunities. The grant required local education agencies to submit an application and match 25 percent of the awarded MACCO funds.

Photo courtesy of Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education