‘Seven years in the making’: New vocational high school opens doors in Hunterdon County (WFMZ)

John Lanza, Director of the Hunterdon County Board of Commissioners says, “We were able to do it with three-quarters of the state’s money, and then because of our fiscal discipline, we were able to come with our 25 percent, pay it in cash.”

The 36,000 square-foot building houses six technical education programs of study.

“Culinary Arts and Hospitality is one of our showpieces. Welding Technology, another showpiece as well. Diesel Technology and Electrical Technology, two brand-new programs,” Dr. Bonsall says.

In the coming years, HVAC, plumbing, and advanced manufacturing will join the lineup; answering what educators call a growing skills gap in the local workforce.

“There is a skills gap in this county and statewide,” Lanza explains. “We are sending an awful lot of people off to college who maybe don’t want to go to college or may actually want to pursue these trades.”

Superintendent Bonsall says there are around 20 first-year students in each program and they’re already recruiting for next year.

“They come up here in the classroom, and then they learn the theory behind it. Then what they learn, they just go right down in the shop, and they put it into practice hands-on to perfect their skills,” Dr. Bonsall says.

Leaders say the goal is simple; keep young talent local, while giving them the tools to succeed.

“So you have people that are not only getting the skills to join the skilled labor unions out here, but also to become the next business owners and entrepreneurs that were grown here locally and can stay here,” Lanza added.