Erie County Times

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced $117,000 in Manufacturing PA Training-to-Career Program funds for the Warren County Career Center in an effort to attract local high school students to manufacturing.

According to an Aug. 26 news release, this will be for Warren County School District high school students to show them there can be a different route than traditional higher education after high school. There will be a part-time position at the center utilizing the funds, as well as purchasing new equipment, materials and tools. The funds will also help with promotional and marketing materials, as well as the purchase of 20 Haas Certifications.

“Pursuing a career in the manufacturing industry is the right choice for many students; they just need the opportunity to see what the field is all about,” Wolf said in the release. “Pennsylvania has many lucrative manufacturing job opportunities, and providing the chance for students to learn about this career path is critical for it to remain a key industry within the commonwealth.”

The Warren County Career Center is the area’s vocational-technical school serving students in the Warren County School District, with training for students in grades 10 through 12, the release reported. Warren County Career Center Director James Evers said the center and the school district are very excited, adding that it will be a benefit for the students and the community alike.

“Students will be exposed to industrial career opportunities beyond the single, technical field,” Evers said in the release. “This will open the door of manufacturing to other students who may have never considered it as an option. We believe this has the potential of changing how career and technical education is provided in our district.”

Since the creation of the Manufacturing PA Initiative in 2017, 82 projects have been funded and $17.3 million has been invested, the release reported.