College, Lawrence Tech School Share Innovation Award

Photo: Gov. Deval Patrick and area business leaders are led on a tour of Flowserve Lawrence Pumps by Director John Yeragotelis before announcing a $1.2 million grant for advanced manufacturing training.

Greater Lawrence Advanced Manufacturing Academy, a collaboration between Northern Essex Community College and Greater Lawrence Vocational Technical High School, is one of five recipients of the 2014 Gateway Cities Innovation Award.

The award will be presented at a luncheon, Thursday, Nov. 13, at UMass Boston.

The Greater Lawrence Advanced Manufacturing Academy secured a $1.2 million state grant and more than $500,000 in donations from such area companies as FlowServe Lawrence Pumps, HAAS, Raytheon, Mills Machine, Gould Construction, DesignWerks, and JamLab to purchase advanced equipment. The state grant was announced last April.

“Advanced manufacturing is an area of critical focus, one that can help us put people to work now and prepare our workers for the jobs of the 21st century global economy,” Gov. Deval Patrick said at the time. “By providing our students with proper skills and training, we are supporting opportunities in this important industry and ensuring a strong economic future for our commonwealth.”

Greater Lawrence Superintendent John Lavoie and NECC President Lane Glenn are creating a program allowing high school students to dual enroll at the community college and earn credit toward an associate’s degree in advanced manufacturing. The academy will also provide training opportunities for adult learners.