Funding approved for new manufacturing training program in Lehigh Valley

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Gov. Tom Wolf announced last week the approval of new funding to support the creation of a new manufacturing training program in Lehigh Valley.

The program will be developed by the Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC) in coordination with the Lehigh Carbon Community College and Workforce Board Lehigh Valley.

“In order to strengthen our manufacturing sector and empower our workforce, we need to support the ability for workers to get the crucial skills they need to get a stable, high-paying job in manufacturing,” Wolf said. “That’s why this grant is such great news for the Lehigh Valley. It will enable people to enter the manufacturing workforce for the first time and will provide a great benefit to manufacturers in the area as well. It’s truly a win-win situation.”

The approved grant will provide $135,000 to develop the program based on the response of local manufacturers about their greatest workforce needs. The 16-week, short-term work readiness program will provide participants with critical skills needed for entry-level manufacturing jobs. The program is expected to provide 20 trainees with certifications and transferable college credits within its first year.

“The new program has two main goals: first, it will be a great tool for individuals looking to better understand and land a job in manufacturing because it will be based on the needs of local manufacturers,” Jack Pfunder, president and CEO of MRC, said. “It will also be a great way for manufacturers to better assess the critical talents and knowledge that the applicants have that are needed for entry-level positions.”

The new program is being funded through the Pennsylvania Manufacturing Training-to-Career grant, which is designed assist in the development of training programs to provide unemployed or underemployed individuals, as well as those with barriers, with the skills to enter the manufacturing sector workforce.

Wolf also recently announced that Training-to-Career grants had been awarded to the Greater Johnstown Career & Technical Center and Robert Morris University.