(WHTM) — PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) announced Tuesday that they would be investing $11.8 million in an effort to “help grow Pennsylvania’s workforce and expand career pathways in the heavy highway industry.”. The funding will go toward the new PennDOT Career and Technical Education Grant Program, which will support “career pathway education, technical training, industry certification and on-the-job learning in the highway industry for middle, high school and college students.”. * Lancaster County Career and Technology Center: $491,100 to expand its Heavy Equipment and Diesel Equipment Program to include Commercial Driver’s License and PennDOT’s Construction Inspection Certification Program. “These grants will help schools start or expand programs to expose students to the trades that will continue building Pennsylvania,” PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said in a press release.“We’re proud to support the important work that Pennsylvania’s educational institutions do every day to prepare the next generation for whatever career path they choose.”.