State Rep. Rosemary Brown, R-Monroe/Pike, announced Monroe County Technical Institute received a total of $42,835 in state funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

These funds will be used to purchase new and improved equipment for its precision machining, HVAC technology, plumbing technology, automotive technology and culinary arts programs.

“MCTI offers numerous career and trade programs that many students from Pleasant Valley, East Stroudsburg, Pocono Mountain and Stroudsburg school districts take advantage of to prepare for their future occupation,” Brown said. “Our area is always in need of those trained in trade professions and these funds will allow MCTI to continue to provide the necessary machines and equipment that students will need to properly train in their field.”

A total of $1.2 million in competitive grants from PDE was awarded to 38 career and technical centers and area vocational technical education schools across the state for the purchase of new equipment aligned to training students in high-demand occupations.