Ciscomani Touts $2.7 Million for Pima JTED to Expand Workforce Training Across Pima County
'We are fortunate to have an outstanding program like Pima JTED right here in Pima County that allows students to excel and build a future in the skilled workforce.'
Tucson, AZ - U.S. Representative Juan Ciscomani was joined by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Deputy Administrator Bill Briggs to see firsthand the impact of $2.7 million in funding the congressman preliminarily secured for Pima JTED, set to expand career and technical education and prepare students for high-demand careers across Arizona’s Sixth Congressional District.
The funding will support the expansion of Pima JTED’s Innovation Tech High School campus and immediately benefit programs in heavy equipment operation, construction technology, engineering, bioscience, sustainability, and other high-demand fields.
"I was incredibly honored to tour Pima JTED today and see firsthand the impact their career and technical education programs are having on our students," said Rep. Juan Ciscomani. "These young men and women are eager to learn and develop the skills they need to succeed in high demand careers and seeing that enthusiasm firsthand is incredibly encouraging. We are fortunate to have an outstanding program like Pima JTED right here in Pima County that allows students to excel and build a future in the skilled workforce. As Arizona’s only appropriator in Congress, these are exactly the kinds of investments we are fighting to bring home, putting taxpayer dollars to work where they can have the greatest impact in Arizona’s Sixth Congressional District. I am proud to continue fighting to deliver resources for Pima JTED and the students they serve."
"JTED is a critical part of the Arizona workforce development chain that helps small businesses find skilled employees or become entrepreneurs themselves. Representative Ciscomani firmly understands this reality. He has been a steadfast leader in securing funding to expand infrastructure which ultimately supports small business and entrepreneurship," said U.S. Small Business Administration Deputy Administrator Bill Briggs.
As demand for skilled workers continues to grow across Arizona, career and technical education is providing students with a direct pathway into rewarding careers without requiring a traditional four-year college degree. Pima JTED has long led the way in preparing students for these opportunities, giving young Arizonans hands-on experience and the skills they need to enter high-demand fields right here in Arizona’s Sixth District.
From healthcare and cosmetology to biomanufacturing, construction, engineering, and fire service, Pima JTED students receive high-quality, practical training that prepares them to meet critical workforce needs across the region. This latest $2.7 million preliminary investment follows more than $4.5 million Representative Ciscomani secured for Pima JTED in 2024.
"Our Pima JTED Governing Board members and staff were pleased to host Congressman Juan Ciscomani and his team today to see the results of his hard work in securing $2.7 million in Federal appropriations for expanded job skills training here in southern Arizona. The Potoff Private Philanthropy Center for Technological Innovation will soon help us accommodate the increased demand for our industrial trades programs," said Pima JTED Director of Public Relations Greg D’Anna.
In Congress, Rep. Ciscomani has prioritized expanding access to career and technical education and skilled-trade opportunities. He introduced the bipartisan CONSTRUCTS Act (H.R. 1055), which would establish a new federal grant program through the Department of Labor to support residential construction training at community colleges and trade schools nationwide. As the most bipartisan member of the Arizona delegation, Ciscomani has championed efforts to expand vocational programs, opening new doors for students and ensuring Arizona’s future workforce is prepared for success.
Read more about this funding, covered by KGUN 9 HERE.
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