Boise, Idaho – Governor Brad Little announced today Idaho’s secondary and postsecondary career technical education (CTE) programs were awarded $8 million in grants as part of his “Leading Idaho” initiative.

From welding to cybersecurity, nursing to vehicle maintenance, and nuclear operations to early childhood education and many other areas, high schools and colleges will be able to offer more in-demand career training opportunities for students across the Gem State.

The grants are on top of the $80 million the Governor and Legislature approved during the Sept. 1, 2022, extraordinary session for additional in-demand career training moving forward.

“This is what Idaho is all about – connecting Idaho workers with the training and education they need to lead happy, productive careers and help meet local industry needs to ensure the continued strength of our red-hot economy,” Governor Little said.

More than 140 secondary and 26 postsecondary programs applied for the grants. All applications were evaluated and prioritized based on data provided by the Idaho Department of Labor.

The list of grant recipients is available here.

The Idaho Division of Career Technical Education identified recipients using a targeted approach. It reviewed regional and statewide data to ensure programs were supported to help regional employers fill their most high-skill and in-demand careers. Roughly equal amounts of grants were awarded to rural and urban districts. Applications that supported training for the top 250 occupations with at least 100 job openings or projected 25-percent growth were prioritized.

“We’re extremely grateful to Governor Little and the Idaho Legislature for their ongoing support of CTE in Idaho,” Idaho CTE Division administrator Clay Long said. “We look forward to the continued support of the Governor and Legislature to ensure we continue to meet the needs of Idaho’s students and employers.”

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