Gov. Tom Wolf announced Tuesday the approval of a $199,781 grant for the Northampton Community College (NCC) to help unemployed and underemployed workers gain entry-level skills required for in-demand manufacturing positions.
“The Lehigh Valley has a rich history of manufacturing, but as the manufacturing sector evolves to meet the demands of the 21st-century economy, our workforce must be able to evolve with it,” Gov. Wolf said. “This funding will help support Northampton Community College’s program to ensure that Lehigh Valley manufacturers have the talent they need to fill their open positions.”
The Pennsylvania Manufacturing Training-to-Career grant will support the training of 60 participants in NCC’s Microcredentials in Manufacturing training program, a 180-hour program developed in coordination with local manufacturers such as B. Braun Medical, Reeb Millwork, and Sussex Wire.
“Northampton Community College is thrilled to receive this grant award from the Wolf Administration to deliver the Microcredentials in Manufacturing program in the Lehigh Valley,” Michele Pappalardo, associate dean of workforce development at NCC, said. “This on-going partnership is so critical to continue supporting our local manufacturers by providing them with well-trained workers.”
The Pennsylvania Manufacturing Training-to-Career grant aims to provide funding to help unemployed and underemployed individuals, as well as those with barriers, build the skills they need to gain employment in the manufacturing sector. Eligible applicants include technical and trade schools, universities, and nonprofit organizations that develop new and innovative training programs and partner with two or more manufacturers. The grant is part of Governor Wolf’s Manufacturing PA initiative, which was launched in October 2017.