CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. — Citrus County Schools will be receiving a boost in the form of grant money, which will be coming from the workforce development capitalization incentive grant program.

The school district was recently approved for a $2 million grant that will go towards its welding program.

The district already has a construction academy for their high school students. The new funding will support the creation and expansion of 30 programs aimed at enhancing workforce development, which are designed to offer students hands-on educational experiences in a variety of fields, including construction.

“It’s wonderful to see them in there with their hammers, their saws and everything that’s going on for the construction academy,” said Citrus County Schools Director of Career, Technical and Adult Education Debra Stanley. “To know that we can take it one step further with welding is extremely exciting for me and very rewarding for me, personally, because I feel like we are changing lives.”

A spokesperson with Citrus County Schools says the future welding program will be available to all three Citrus high schools.

It’s an intriguing prospect that has some students excited. Inside one Citrus High School classroom, students are getting a taste of what it’s like to make something with their own hands. The class is part of the construction academy at Citrus High, composed of students from various grade levels who are all coming together to learn how to build.

“I feel like it’s more about learning how to build things and preparing how you need to do it along with many other steps,” says tenth grader Lucas Gonzalez.

The class, Gonzalez says, has opened his eyes to the field of construction — changing his perception of building, and even influencing him to pursue a job in the field after high school.

“I didn’t plan on it until I started taking the class at the beginning of the year, until I felt a little bit more interested in it. I kept going on with it, kept getting into it and I might take this class next year to help me get a job that I want.”

He’s not the only one. With grant money for a welding program on the way, there’s a good chance other students will be motivated as well.

“This grant is really going to expand the opportunities for the children to learn a trade or, at least, be exposed to it and determine whether or not it’s something they want to do as they move through high school and, maybe, even post-secondary or post high school,” says Citrus High School construction academy instructor Bobby Tester. “They can move into those technical schools and further their educations.”

This paves the way for more equipment and further hands-on experience for students, preparing them for life after high school.

“I actually respect this man, Mr. Tester,” said Gonzalez. “He does a lot for us, too. And I’d be grateful for that — to expand.”