Gov. Tom Wolf last week announced the approval of $200,000 in new funding for Bucks County Community College’s apprenticeship program.
“This funding will enable Bucks County Community College to offer fully-encompassed training to individuals looking for good-paying jobs,” Wolf said. “By supporting apprenticeship programs, we’re strengthening Pennsylvania’s workforce and helping manufacturing companies secure fully-trained, long-term workers.”
The funding will assist with the training of students for the Metalwork Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program through the creation of an awareness campaign to increase recruitment for all BCCC Manufacturing Pre-Apprenticeship Training Programs. BCCC will run a campaign to educate Bucks County residents about the free, 12-week, Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program that upskills and retains unemployed and underemployed individuals.
“We are thrilled to receive this funding, and we are thankful to Gov. Wolf and the Department of Community and Economic Development for committing resources to the workforce needs in our community,” said Susan Herring, executive director of the Center for Workforce Development at Bucks County Community College. “The Training to Career Grant will allow us to make students, parents and job seekers aware of these free training programs, which provide life-changing opportunities and high-paying careers in manufacturing.”
The training also includes soft skills training, job shadowing opportunities and individualized job placement assistance with partnering manufacturing employers.
“Bucks County Community College is excited to provide new opportunities for our local citizens to become students in our Metalwork Program. With a 94% placement rate, this program is a great way to start or change a career,” said Dr. Stephanie Shanblatt, president of BCCC. “Our regional industry partners also benefit by maintaining a skilled workforce through hiring our graduates. We appreciate the efforts of Gov. Wolf to grow apprenticeship programs and to help get the word out that this can be a great career choice.”
