The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development has awarded NCC a $199,843 Manufacturing Pennsylvania 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,” said 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.

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