State Awards $199 Million for Local Career Technical Education Facilities for California...

State Awards $199 Million for Local Career Technical Education Facilities for California Teens

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(Business Wire)--
The Office of Public School Construction (OPSC) announced today
that the State Allocation Board (SAB) has awarded $199 million in
state grants and loans to build or modernize career technical
education facilities at high schools throughout the state.

"Governor Schwarzenegger has a strong, personal commitment and
belief that career tech programs are an educational alternative that
many California kids need," said SAB member and Department of General
Services Director Will Bush. "The benefit of these wonderful programs
is that they provide the opportunity for our young adults to join the
California workforce with enhanced skills and be more productive
citizens."

Funding was awarded across 15 different industry sectors for 174
projects at high schools or other local educational facilities
statewide. A total of $185 million in grants were awarded. The SAB
allocated another $14 million in loans for districts that were unable
to provide the required matching funds.

Among the highlights of the funding: $29.3 million will fund
transportation education in all of the state's major population
centers; more than $28.5 million will go toward agriculture and
natural resources education in 57 of the state's 58 counties; Los
Angeles County schools will receive more than $9.7 million of the $28
million awarded for arts, media and entertainment programs; $18
million in hospitality, tourism and recreation grants will land in the
capital, San Francisco Bay Area and Southern California regions; while
statewide, $22.9 million will advance engineering and design education
and nearly $20 million will support building trades and construction.

"Today's funding means career tech programs will grow and our
teens win," said OPSC Executive Officer Rob Cook. "When voters passed
Proposition 1D in 2006, they gave these programs a shot in the arm by
approving $500 million dollars to build facilities for new career tech
programs and enhance existing ones."

The SAB provides grants to school districts for new school
buildings and the modernization of facilities. The SAB's new CTE
Facilities program is a 50-50 process that requires a school to
provide a matching contribution. A school district can apply for new
construction or modernization funding if its facility is a
Comprehensive High School. A Joint Powers Authority can also apply for
modernization funding if they were operating a career technical
education program. The maximum grant is $3 million per project, per
school site. If a district qualifies, the SAB can also loan all or
part of the matching contribution.

"These grants will help ensure that California can continue to
provide the academic, technical, and occupational knowledge to guide
students to postsecondary education and careers," said Bush.

For a complete list of all the projects that received funding
visit: http://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr08/yr08rel34att.asp.

The Office of Public School Construction serves as staff to the
State Allocation Board and as such is responsible for processing
school applications and providing funding to qualifying school
districts. As stewards of the taxpayer's commitment to education,
OPSC's actions enrich the lives of California's school children and
enable school districts to build safe and adequate school facilities
in an expeditious and cost-effective manner.

California Department of General Services
Beth Mills or Eric Lamoureux, 916-376-5037

Copyright Business Wire 2008