The Department of Community and Economic Development recently awarded the Corry Area School District a $200,000 Manufacturing PA Training-to-Career grant award to enhance its Career and Technical Center.
The grant “will be instrumental in helping us to start our Student Run Manufacturing Enterprise, which we are hoping to attract more students into our Business, Technology Education and Career & Technical classes,” Nicholas Krasa, Corry Area School District supervisor of vocational education, said. “Our students will gain the opportunity to start a company from the ground level, then design, build and market products.”
The program, open to students from Crawford, Erie, and Warren counties, provides manufacturing skills through technical and business classes. Students learn about production, quality inspection, marketing, quoting, sales, and fiscal management. Areas of study include accounting, building maintenance, graphic communication, machine technology, marketing, welding and woodworking.
“We are hopeful that the experience will help spark the interest of high school students in the manufacturing world.”
The district will use funding to cover the costs of training and certifications; to purchase equipment, materials, and supplies; and hire program staff and work with professional consultants.
The MTTC program works with local manufacturers to identify and teach missing essential skills to entry level applicants seeking manufacturing employment.