The Windsor Electrical Contractors Association donated to the future of their trade this week.
The association donated $20,000 to the Electrical Academy at Catholic Central High School.
Executive Director Jim Kennedy said the electrical academy and others like it are important to attract students to skilled trades.
"It's going to give them an opportunity to decide whether this is really a trade they want to be in before they get there," said Kennedy. "The level of training that they are getting here and the safety training before they get on a job for work experience is invaluable."
All of the funds will go toward purchasing tools and consumable materials needed to teach students the trade.
"It's very difficult to run [the academies] because we're talking about consumable objects and consumable products and also some high-end products that can be very expensive that most schools can't afford," said Cory McAiney, Teacher Consultant - Pathways, OYAP and Technological Studies. "For these employers, these contractors, manufacturers to get together to help our students out this way, it really makes it possible."
The association is made up of a number of local companies, including Mid South Contractors, FM Sylvan, Tucker Electric, Vollmer, Electrozad, Beato Electric and Controls, Altra, Graybar, Sterline Ridge Group, Western Equipment, Wesco, Steele Electric Supply, Rorison Electric, Classic Electric, and Online Electrical Systems.
An additional $5,000 of donated material was also donated through Graybar.
The Windsor Essex Catholic District School Board offers skilled trades training at a number of high schools in the areas of carpentry, plumbing, electrical, masonry, and welding.