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OTC picked for $1M federal grant

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The U.S. Economic Development Administration chose Ozarks Technical Community College for a $1 million grant to improve the Springfield school’s diesel automotive training program.

The grant funding would allow OTC to build four truck bays and four classrooms with learning labs, according to a news release from the EDA, a bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

OTC spokesman Mark Miller said via email the school seeks another $1 million in matching funds to expand its Industry and Transportation Technology Center at the corner of Central Street and National Avenue.

“The OTC Foundation is committed to raising the additional funds needed for the expansion,” OTC Chancellor Hal Higdon said in a provided statement.

OTC’s associate degree program in diesel technology is a 64-hour course focusing on medium and heavy-duty trucks. It’s accredited by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation, according to OTC.edu.

In the release, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker said the grant funding is part an Obama administration and Commerce Department commitment to prioritize skills and workforce development.

“This EDA investment will allow for expansion of a diesel mechanics training center that is working to ensure that local workers are prepared to meet regional business demands,” she said.

Miller said when OTC applied for the grant, the school had letters of support from the likes of Prime Inc., Peterbilt and Jenkins Diesel, among others.

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