Burns: Local career program receives $200,000 state grant

Program aims to connect 15,000 students with manufacturing industry

EBENSBURG, Aug. 16 – Just days after renewing his push to increase state support for the manufacturing industry and rebuild Pennsylvania’s economy, state Rep. Frank Burns today announced a $200,000 state grant for a local career program that aims to connect 15,000 students with careers in the manufacturing industry.

“If we want to rebuild Pennsylvania’s manufacturing economy, we have to prove to potential businesses that we have the workforce available to meet their needs,” Burns said. “That’s why I’ve supported programs like this one that connect students to careers and local businesses, so they have the real-world experience they need to be successful.  I’m always pushing for policies in Harrisburg that promote manufacturing here at home – not in China.”

The grant awarded Tuesday to The Challenge Program Inc. of Johnstown will enable the program to increase manufacturing awareness activities and implement ‘Students in the Workplace’ among the organization’s manufacturing and school partnerships. Through this program, more than 15,000 students in grades 10 through 12 will be introduced to the breadth of manufacturing opportunities, including specific types of positions available in the field and the training and educational pathways needed to enter these careers.

The grant was awarded through Pennsylvania’s Manufacturing PA Training-to-Career Program.

Training-to-Career grants saupport projects that result in short-term work-readiness, job placement, or the advancement of manufacturing. The Manufacturing PA Training-to-Career Grant program works collaboratively with local manufacturers to identify and teach missing essential skills for entry-level applicants seeking manufacturing employment, engage youth or those with barriers to career opportunities in manufacturing, and or advance capacity for local or regional manufacturers.