Published: July 25, 2008 11:55 am      

Garrett lands $1M training center grant

ACCIDENT - Garrett County will receive a $1 million grant from the state of Maryland to establish a Career and Technology Training Center for high school graduates opting not to go to college.

"This investment is an example of how we are aligning our strengths with regional economic and work force development priorities," Gov. Martin O'Malley said. "It is essential to our continued growth that we provide the educational resources to not only meet the expanding needs of the business community, but also improve the local skill base and offer students who may not choose to attend college the opportunity to gain trade skills that will lead to more challenging and rewarding employment opportunities."

Funding for the training center, which is expected to be completed by December 2010, is included in the county's fiscal 2009 budget. According to Monty Pagenhardt, county administrator, the county will have to contribute $500,000 to the project.

While the county didn't have notice of the state funding while drafting the budget, Pagenhardt said based upon the anticipated funding and preliminary approval, the center was included in the budget.

The new center will provide career training skills not only to college students and new high school graduates, but Pagenhardt said it will provide a facility for private businesses to train their employees as well.

The facility will include focuses in specialty trades such as welding, machining, metal fabrication, HVAC, masonry, carpentry, CAD/CAM, metal finishing/painting and robotics.

Pagenhardt said this project has been one many businesses have requested of the county's economic development department. Many said they wanted to see a facility so they could train their employees or find a better-trained work force.

"The Career and Technology Training Center will allow new high school graduates who elect not to go on to college to learn a skill or trade that will enable them to enjoy a better standard of living and quality of life," Denny Glotfelty, chairman of the Garrett County Board of Commissioners, said. "This project, along with the Garrett County Scholarship program, shows the commitment by the county in giving our young people the tools they need to have a meaningful and successful career."

The training center is Phase 2 of the scholarship program, which provides up to two years of free tuition at Garrett College to every graduating high school senior and equivalents. Under this phase, the county would cover the cost of tuition for graduating seniors who would attend CTTC as well.

The new center will be located in the former Phenix Technology building that the county owns in Accident. Pagenhardt said there will be no conflict in allowing the Garrett Engineering and Robotics Society to continue using that facility.

Contact Sarah Moses at smoses@times-news.com.