Haverhill, MA (October 21, 2025) — Northern Essex Community College is proud to be one of the recipients of this year’s Skills Capital grants, as announced by The Healey-Driscoll Administration this week. The college will receive $250,000 in support of the development of an associate degree in Surgical Technology. This new degree will prepare students for roles as technologists supporting the work of surgeons and the broader healthcare team.  The program is a direct response to the regional workforce’s labor needs and will contribute to the critically important goal of diversifying the region’s healthcare workforce.

Students who complete the Surgical Technology program will receive an associate degree in Surgical Technology and qualify to take the Certification exam required by the state of Massachusetts for employment as a surgical technologist.

Funding from the Skills Capital Grant will enable the purchase of cutting-edge equipment, technology, and supplies, providing students with realistic, hands-on experience in a controlled and safe environment.

In all, the state awarded $13,500,000 to 66 high schools, colleges, and educational or workforce organizations to expand access to hands-on learning opportunities and state-of-the-art technology in schools and colleges across Massachusetts. These grants will fund the purchase and installation of modern equipment that supports career technical education and training aligned with high-demand industries, such as advanced manufacturing, clean energy, health care, and biotechnology.

“Massachusetts leads the nation because we invest in ideas—through our schools, our colleges, and our people,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Our success in innovation and education is no accident—it’s the result of strategic investments. To stay competitive, we need to keep building the best environments for learning and research, and that’s exactly what Skills Capital Grants are doing. They’re how we prepare our students to lead and how we keep Massachusetts leading the world. Our BRIGHT Act dedicates $100 million to Skills Capital Grants to ensure that every community has access to the tools and training that drive opportunity and innovation.”

The announcement was part of a kickoff event for STEM Week 2025 under the theme “STEM Starts Now.” The event reinforced the message that STEM learning can start at any age and plays a crucial role in shaping the Commonwealth’s innovation economy. The weeklong celebration highlights how programs like the Skills Capital Grant initiative are giving students—from early education through higher education—the tools, experiences, and confidence to pursue rewarding careers that fuel the state’s economic growth and competitiveness.

“Massachusetts didn’t become a STEM hub by accident,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “We got here by emphasizing education early on, investing in outstanding institutions like Framingham State University, and welcoming major industry leaders to our communities. These investments pay off with good-paying jobs for our students, a robust economy, and advances in healthcare.”

Development of the new Surgical Tech program is ongoing. For more information on health professions offerings at NECC, visit the webpage.

Portions of this article were adapted from a press release from the MA Executive Office of Education.