State grants $99K for voag project

MIDDLETOWN — The General Assembly has approved state bond funding for an important building project at Middletown High School.

The school will receive $98,952 for a vocational-agriculture center project slated to cost an estimated $123,690, according to a press release.

State Sen. Matt Lesser, DMiddletown, said the money will assist in efforts to ensure students are prepared to take advantage of careers in agriculture.

“This funding will allow for the purchase of equipment necessary to ensure our school provides topquality, cuttingedge educational programs to area students,” he said in a prepared statement.

State Reps. Joseph Serra, and Quentin Phipps, both DMiddletown, applauded the state’s investment.

“I am very gratified to have worked with the governor and my colleagues in the legislature to provide these additional funds for Middletown High School’s voag program to build the industry’s future workforce,” Serra said in the statement.

“Agriculture is a large industry in Connecticut, and this program helps ensure its longevity in the state by preparing the future generation of farmers and agriculture professionals,” Serra said.

“The voag program has a long history of preparing our students for careers in a variety of fields,” Phipps said in the release. “The state’s commitment of nearly $99,000 represents 80 percent of the total cost for new equipment so Middletown taxpayers also benefit. I applaud my colleagues for their support of this grant allocation,” he added.

Middletown High School participates in a regional agricultural science and technology program, which aims to provide instruction to help shepherd students into careers in agriculture, either after high school or college, the release said.

Teachers instruct the class in leadership, agricultural business, and provide a supervised agricultural experience. Students from schools throughout the region can participate in this program.