Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced a grant of $37,500 for Cumberland County High School (CCHS) on Thursday to upgrade equipment for the school’s career and technical education (CTE) programs.

According to a press release from McAuliffe’s office, CCHS is one of 16 high schools to receive the grant, which totaled $600,000 overall.

Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Dr. Chip Jones said the grant will enhance student career readiness and will allow CCHS students to obtain experience with real-life applications.

“The students often engage in real-world projects, such as building sheds for Habitat for Humanity, erecting hunting blinds for local hunt clubs and constructing tables for use at the school,” Jones said. “Students will obtain use of the tools to gain knowledge that will help them obtain industry certifications, thereby increasing their marketability.”

“As we continue to build the new Virginia economy, it is vital that we align our CTE programs with the needs of business and industry,” said McAuliffe in the press release. “These grants will allow the commonwealth to better provide our young people with the cutting-edge skills.”

Officials said in the release the grant program gives priority to challenged schools, Governor’s STEM Academies and Governor’s Health Science Academies. A second round of awards will be announced early next year, according to the release.