A $250,000 grant will net manufacturers 120 new workers

A $250,000 grant to the manufacturing sector of south central Pennsylvania is expected to train 120 workers and help grow the industry. 

The South Central PA Next Gen Industry Partnership received the grant from the state Department of Labor and Industry’s PASmart Industrial Partnership Grant program. 

The Manufacturers’ Association in York will facilitate the grant for the employer-led partnership to train workers, promote manufacturing careers, and develop strategies to help companies maintain their workforce, the Manufacturers Association said.  

 “The industry partnership’ work over the last several years has successfully addressed manufacturing’s most critical competitiveness issues,” said Tom Palisin, executive director, Manufacturers’ Association. “The partnership model provides manufacturers a single table to work with the dozens of public and private programs and resources to create comprehensive solutions for the industry.” 

The partners include the grant’s fiscal agent, SCPaWorks Workforce Development Board, Lancaster County Workforce Development Board, the South Central PA Partnership for Regional Economic Performance, and educational partners York County Alliance for Learning and the Partnership for Career Development.  

Weldon Solutions, a manufacturer of grinding machines and robotic integration, and Phoenix Contact, a global leader in electronic connectors, are leading the private sector participation.  

 Over the past several years, the Southcentral PA Manufacturing Industry Partnership of C-suite leaders implemented programs focused on the most urgent needs identified by the industry, the Manufacturers Association said.  

Those efforts have included creating a network of best practices exchanges, a marketing campaign to attract students and individuals to manufacturing careers and offering career exploration programs to students and schools. 

 The partnership provided high skill technical training to 421 employees over the last three years which resulted in wage gains and promotions. 

 With the new funding, the partnership plans to continue to promote manufacturing careers and develop cutting edge strategies to help manufacturing companies retain their workforce, the Manufacturers’ Association said.  

Manufacturing CEOs and leaders interested in participating in the Next Gen Partnership should contact the partnership through The Manufacturers Association at 717- 843-3891, or by email at [email protected] .