Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced Thursday that Northampton Community College would receive more than $50,000 to develop a Precision Machining program for low-income individuals, veterans, and others in Lehigh Valley.
Part of the Manufacturing PA Training-to-Career (MTTC) Grant program, the $50,252 grant will fund an eight-week, 250-hour program that will teach students how to safely handle and operate machining tools used in the manufacturing industry.
“I’m proud to support Northampton Community College’s Precision Machining program,” Wolf said. “This is one of many programs at the college that helps put well-trained, skilled candidates out in the workforce quickly and pairs good, steady jobs with those who need them.”
The program will target individuals who lack the basic technical skills to enter the manufacturing industry and those who are low-income or are unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program will also recruit veterans, career changers, and out-of-school youth with no post-graduation plans or whose plans have changed because of the pandemic.
“All of us at NCC are delighted with the ongoing support and interest shown by DCED in our Industrial Skills training programs,” said Lauren Loeffler, NCC Vice President of Workforce Development and Community Education. “With the funding provided, we have been able to run several successful programs that address the needs of our citizens and local employers looking for well-trained and vetted entry-level employees. Many of our students are individuals that face barriers to employment, unskilled, under-skilled, unemployed, or career changers.”
Slated to begin in July 2022, the program will serve a minimum of 10 students. No fewer than eight of those students will complete at least one National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NMS) credential, and at least seven of whom will complete the entire program. Those completing the program are expected to get entry-level employment in manufacturing within one month of completing the program or to continue their education.
The MTTC grant program is part of Wolf’s Manufacturing PA initiative launched in 2017, which has since invested more than $14.85 million in projects across the state.