WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and Jeanne Shaheen announced with U.S. Representatives Annie Kuster and Chris Pappas that Nashua Community College will receive $456,051 through the Federal Aviation Administration to help expand their technical and mechanical job training programs for aviation. This grant will help ensure that Nashua Community College can continue to expand opportunities for Granite State students.

The grant to Nashua Community College was funded through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2018, which Senator Hassan helped develop, and Senator Shaheen supported. The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 delivers funding for education institutions in New Hampshire and across the country to bolster their aviation job training programs for careers as pilots and technical and mechanical workers, among other important measures.

“This funding will help ensure that Granite Staters can access the necessary training that will help them lead the next generation of aviation technicians,” said Senator Hassan. “With this grant, Nashua Community College can help provide students right here in New Hampshire with the skills that they need to get good-paying, in-demand jobs in the 21st century economy.”

“Nashua Community College offers a wonderful aviation technology training program and these federal dollars will make important investments to enhance the experience for students and to empower educators. This grant is a boon to our aviation workforce,” said Senator Shaheen. “These resources will help ensure our state continues to grow its pipeline of aviation mechanics. I’ll continue to advocate for federal funding to prioritize training programs and further grow New Hampshire’s workforce.”

“I’m pleased to see these federal funds heading to Nashua Community College to expand job training programs for aviation and help more students aim for the sky and pursue their dreams,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “Air travel is essential to the well-being of our economy and to connect New Hampshire with the rest of the world, and this grant will help Nashua Community College strengthen our aviation workforce for generations to come.”

“It is critically important that New Hampshire continues to create and maintain a modern workforce that meets the needs of our employers and helps families grow and succeed in this modern economy,” said Congressman Pappas. “These federal funds heading to Nashua Community College will help expand technical and mechanical aviation job training programs and provide more opportunities for Granite Staters. I remain committed to bringing federal dollars back to New Hampshire to reinvest in our economy and our workforce.”

“With this grant from the FAA, Nashua Community College will be able to expand their workforce development program to train students in the maintenance and production of aircraft mechanics. Students would earn an Associate of Science Degree in Aviation Technology and would be positioned to get jobs in fields such as airplane manufacturing or aviation maintenance positions,” said Lucille Jordan, President of Nashua Community College.

Senator Hassan has led bipartisan efforts to strengthen and expand workforce development programs to help give students of all ages the skills that they need to compete, including jobs in the innovation economy. Senator Hassan helped develop and pass the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act which includes critical workforce development and training provisions. In the government funding bill that was recently signed into law, Senator Hassan doubled funding for a program that supports rural students, including college prep and career pathway programs in rural communities. 

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