EOLIA, Mo.–The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has awarded Pike Lincoln Technical Center and several other Missouri Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs with grant dollars. The important funds further support the important work these programs do to ensure all Missouri students are prepared for success upon graduation and further contribute to developing Missouri’s workforce.

PLTC applied for Missouri’s Area Career Center Opportunity (MACCO) Grant and received the maximum amount possible of $400,000. The MACCO Grant is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (APRA). It provides funding to enhance the state’s CTE capacity by providing more opportunities for CTE students while modernizing career centers’ infrastructure and equipment.

MACCO is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (APRA) and grants local education agencies up to $400,000 to:

Create new high-demand and emerging programs

Construct a new area career center building

Renovate or build an addition to an existing area career center

Update or expand current CTE programs

Improve infrastructure for safety and equipment needs

Upgrade equipment and instructional technology

The grant’s funds must be used by 2025 and their intended use is to enhance or extend area career centers’ capacities to increase students’ knowledge and skills. The knowledge and skills students gain from career center education are needed to gain employment in current or emerging fields, continue 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.

PLTC’s Martin Hanley expects the school to spend the allotted funds on parking lot improvements and technology to enhance students learning experience.