The Butler Area School District won a $100,000 grant to improve its preapprenticeship program.

The Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation is giving the district the money to build out its preapprenticeship program. The district currently has 15 senior high school students enrolled for next year's advanced manufacturing program at Penn United Technologies in Cabot, according to superintendent Brian White, but officials hope to add more programs with other companies and industries in the near future.

“We want to grow,” White said. “The industries in Butler County clearly have a need for more skilled workers.”

White said they're hoping to improve alignment between their programs and post-secondary coursework at Butler County Community College to better connect students with more advanced training classes at the college.

The money will cover purchases, such as equipment, training and course materials, White said.

The Butler School Board unanimously approved the grant in a meeting Tuesday.

White said grants like Benedum's allow the district to try things it wouldn't ordinarily.

“When you want to take a risk, you're not as fearful with a grant as when you're spending taxpayer dollars,” he said. “This can be seed money for innovation.”