The Erie Center for Arts and Technology (ECAT) is expanding its Construction Trades Training program thanks to local partners.

After receiving $1.028 million in funding from Infinite Erie, Erie Insurance, Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority (ECGRA) and Erie Community Foundation, ECAT is looking to give hands-on experience to its students.

"Our students have a tremendous sense of pride in their community," Executive Director of ECAT Kate Nuebert-Lechner said. "They have a tremendous sense of pride of where they grew up, where they're living and [how] they want to help their neighbors."

Her students in the Construction Trades Training program will have the ability to renovate a house located at 211 Parade Street. It is one that needs a little TLC, but that is the whole point.

"There was really a need for on-the-job training for them," said Daria Devlin, director of Social Impact at the Hamot Health Foundation. "They get classroom training, but this would allow them to actually get to work and be paid for their time."

Once the houses are renovated, they are planned to be used as possible rental properties for future tenants.

"Being able to be in a property and actually put it together is, I think, tremendous," Lechner said.

The project was created as a response to ECAT student feedback.

"We had over 100 applicants this year, and we only have 35 spots," Devlin said. "There's really a need here and a lot of interest."

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