Cape Girardeau's Career and Technology Center is one of 51 state institutions receiving six-figure grants from the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), according to a Tuesday, Nov. 29, news release.

DESE's announcement follows an Oct. 24 vote by the Cape Girardeau Board of Education to ask for $400,000 for CTC — a request DESE said it will fulfill in full.

Josh Crowell, the district's assistant superintendent of Support Services, told school board members last month the grant money will be used for additional equipment and renovation of the center's new fire science program and lab.

Other money will be tasked for the construction and automotive technology labs, for geospatial expansion and for a basic flight simulator, Crowell added.

Formally, the grant comes from the Missouri Area Career Center Opportunity program, which is funded through the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

All but four of the 51 Missouri career and technical schools received a full $400,000 grant from DESE.

Other regional awards

• Ironton: Arcadia Valley Career Center, $400,000
• Doniphan: Current River Career Center, $400,000
• Kennett: Kennett Career & Technical Center, $400,000
• New Madrid: New Madrid County R1 Technical Skills Center, $400,000
• Hayti: Pemiscot County Career & Technology Center, $400,000
• Perryville: Perryville Area Career & Technology Center, $400,000
• Poplar Bluff: Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center, $400,000
• Sikeston: Sikeston Career & Technology Center, $400,000