Funds approved for manufacturing training in Berks County

Reading Area Community College (RACC) will be able to provide young adults with basic manufacturing production and employability skills under new funding approved by the Wolf Administration.

“One of the most important ways we can strengthen our manufacturing sector is by providing Pennsylvanians with the skills they need – both on-the-job and employability skills – to help them begin successful careers in manufacturing,” Gov. Tom Wolf said. “By working hand-in-hand with local partners and employers, RACC’s new program will serve as a key initiative to support local manufacturers and strengthen the regional workforce.”

The Pennsylvania Manufacturing Training-to-Career grant will provide $143,000 to RACC for the new program in which trainees will attend full-time classes five days a week for six weeks. Topics covered in the curriculum will include basic production skills, workplace behaviors, resume writing, and interviewing skills. Once participants successfully complete the course, they will be guaranteed an interview with core partners or companies, including Berks Workforce Development Board, Brentwood Industries, Carpenter Technology, Cambridge-Lee Industries, Custom Processing Services, R-V Industries, RM Palmer, and Sweet Street Desserts.

“We are delighted to receive this funding and appreciate the commonwealth acknowledging the important role that our college, in concert with the Berks County Workforce Development Board, plays in moving people into manufacturing jobs,” Anna Weitz, president of Reading Area Community College, said. “The economy of Berks County, and in fact, our entire region is fortunate to include so many companies involved in advanced manufacturing. Their continued success is highly dependent on an appropriately-trained workforce.”

The first group of trainees is scheduled to enroll in Fall 2018 and all tuition charges for inaugural participants will be waived. Applications for the program begin this summer.