Press Releases

LOWELL, MA – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) joined Mayor Mike Nicholson, State Senator Peter Durant, State Representative Jon Zlotnik, Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) President James Vander Hooven, Councillor Aleksander Dernalowicz, and various MWCC leaders to highlight $350,000 in federal funding for MWCC’s new Electric Vehicle Technician Training Program within their Automotive Technology Center. 

“The future of the automobile industry is electric, and I am thrilled to see the Mount leading the way with their new Electric Vehicle Technician Training Program. By securing federal funding for this program, we are ensuring that students in Massachusetts have the training they need to take on in-demand, 21st-century jobs,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “Coupled with new federal investments in EVs made possible through the Inflation Reduction Act, we are preparing for a green energy future. I am determined to work with partners across all levels of government and in the private and educational sectors to ensure that our transition toward clean energy continues to create jobs and economic opportunity in cities like Gardner.”

The $350,000 federal investment is expected to support the education of 40 MWCC students and 40 dual-enrolled high school students in MWCC’s advanced automotive degree and certificate program for Hybrid and EV Automotive Repair and Maintenance technicians. The program has a specific priority of increasing female student enrollment and improving gender parity in auto-tech careers. The funding will cover equipment for the program as well as Hybrid and EV training for faculty.

The project also supported the official launch of the Business and Industry Leadership Team (BILT) last fall. The funding formalized an ongoing partnership between MWCC and local industry leaders to develop and update the curriculum of the program. 

“Giving our students real world experiences in their classrooms is invaluable. Funding like this helps make that possible. Not only does this help our students train better for their post collegiate careers, but also provides them with a competitive advantage in the workforce by leaving their classes already with industry credentials,” said Mayor Nicholson. “This helps all of our students at MWCC, and our Gardner High School students in our early college program prepare for their futures in the best way possible. I’m looking forward to seeing the positive impact this funding provides and how we can continue that partnership in the future.”

“The rapid transition of the automotive industry from traditional combustion engine vehicles to those with hybrid and EV technologies has created a demand in the industry for skilled technicians,” noted MWCC President James Vander Hooven. “We have the opportunity to expand access to careers to a diverse student population, including those who may not have been admitted into vocational high schools due to high demand. This grant aligns perfectly with our mission to meet the education and workforce needs of our community.”

MWCC received the $350,000 federal grant to cover the next three years of the program through the National Science Foundation. Trahan supported increases to the National Science Foundation budget to complete this project and also voted for the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest climate investment in our country’s history. Specifically, the Inflation Reduction Act created and funded a suite of new clean energy tax credits designed to incentivize electric vehicle purchases.

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