DCED Manufacturing PA Training-to-Career Grant will fund expansion of pathways in manufacturing program 

BETHLEHEM, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) has awarded NCC a $199,843 Manufacturing PA Training-to-Career Grant, which will enable the college to develop and implement Career Pathways in Manufacturing. The 8-week, 160-hour program will introduce manufacturing training and apprenticeship programs to individuals who are seeking a new career but may face barriers to employment. The program is free to participants thanks to the grant funding.

The new program is the next generation of NCC’s previous grant-funded Industrial Workforce Skills Development programs, which include Pathways to Manufacturing, Industrial Maintenance, and Precision Machining. Building on the success and lessons from those programs, the Career Pathways in Manufacturing Program will incorporate feedback from employers, workforce partners, and graduates to ensure it meets current workforce needs.

“NCC’s training-to-career programs change lives,” says Michele Salkin, program manager for trade and technical programs at the college. “We are thrilled to receive this generous award from the DCED to continue providing entry-level industrial skills training to people who may be unaware of the many career pathways available in the growing field of manufacturing. Our team at NCC looks forward to continuing to empower adult learners to succeed in new careers, while building a pipeline of employees to meet the critical needs of our employer partners. It’s a win-win situation.”

The Career Pathways in Manufacturing Program includes a series of stackable credentials – some already developed by NCC and some that will be created for this initiative – that teach essential skills and include project-based learning. Students in the program will experience hands-on training at the FAB Lab, NCC’s maker space located at the Fowler Family Southside Center that combines state-of-the-art equipment and technology with expert instruction.

With the DCED funding, students will visit local manufacturing companies and learn why manufacturing continues to be a top Lehigh Valley industry. The program will help students identify and leverage their strengths to seek out opportunities that align with their new knowledge and skills.

Program goals include serving at least 36 students in three cohorts. Class sizes will remain small so that students receive the personalized instruction that made previous iterations of the program so successful. Upon completion, graduates will be prepared for occupations in an industry that is experiencing an urgent need for entry-level workers. They will also learn about opportunities to continue their educational path through further coursework and apprenticeship programs.

The first class will begin in February. Find more information about the program, and sign-up for a mandatory information session online.

 

About Northampton Community College

With an enduring commitment to the regional communities it serves and a focus on student success, Northampton Community College is an educational institution of extraordinary distinction, earning accolades at the state and national levels for innovative programs, outstanding faculty, and impressive student achievements. It counts among its successful alumni a four-time Pulitzer Prize winner and an Academy Award winning director, as well as a host of CEOs, presidents, and leaders of business and industry. Today, Northampton Community College has locations in Bethlehem, Southside Bethlehem, and Monroe County, serving 30,000 students annually from 53 counties, 42 countries, and 25 states. For more information or to apply, please visit northampton.edu. Follow NCC’s President on X @NCCPresDaveRuth, and the college on LinkedIn, Instagram @NorthamptonCommCollege, TikTok @NorthamptonCC, and Facebook.