Cape Girardeau's Career and Technology Center recently received one of nine grants that aims to allow high school students to receive college credit and gain work experience, ideally preparing students even faster for college and the workforce.

The "Innovation Campus" (not to be confused with the Innovation Center at Southeast Missouri State University) grant was for $1 million, paid for by the Missouri Department of Economic Development. Locally, the Cape Girardeau Business Development Foundation, a separate entity with its own board that the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce works with, is administering the grant by collaborating with the CTC, Southeast, Mineral Area College and Three Rivers College.