Dixie Tech receives 'vital' $930K grant to expand skilled trades education

July 28, 2026 - 03:27

Dixie Technical College has secured a $930,000 grant that school officials say is vital for expanding hands-on training in high-demand construction trades. The funding will be used to grow the college's programs in electrical work, HVAC installation and repair, and plumbing.

The grant comes at a time when the construction industry across the region is struggling to find enough qualified workers. College administrators plan to use the money to buy new equipment, upgrade lab spaces, and hire additional instructors. This will allow them to admit more students into these three trades programs, which currently have long waiting lists.

A spokesperson for the college described the grant as a game-changer for students who want to start a career without spending four years in a traditional university. Many of the programs at Dixie Tech can be completed in a year or less, and graduates often move directly into jobs with starting wages well above the local average.

Local builders and contractors have been pushing for more training capacity, saying the shortage of electricians, plumbers, and HVAC technicians is slowing down projects and driving up costs. The new funding is expected to help close that gap by putting more trained workers into the local economy within the next 12 to 18 months.