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District secures $250,000 grant for heavy-equipment simulators to expand career pathways
Summary
The district announced a $250,000 grant to purchase three heavy-equipment simulators in partnership with Caterpillar to support NCCER credentialing and local workforce development addressing over 13,000 unfilled Arizona jobs in the field.
Superintendent Dr. Lopeman told the board that Maricopa Unified was awarded a $250,000 grant to purchase three heavy-equipment simulators, saying the award makes the district "the only recipient in the state and the first district in Arizona to offer this program." The simulators will provide hands-on experience on industry-standard equipment and support students pursuing the NCCER heavy equipment operator credential.
Dr. Lopeman said the grant, secured through the work of "Doctor Maxwell," will let students train on simulators for excavators, small dozers and compact track loaders and tie directly to local workforce demand; she noted the field currently has "more than 13,000 unfilled jobs across Arizona." The district plans to incorporate the simulators into the new workforce development space at Maricopa High School when it is completed.
