State announces industrial apprenticeship program

Department of Labor and Industry Deputy Secretary for Workforce Development Eileen Cipriani continued the Wolf administration’s ‘Jobs that Pay’ tour today at the Gettysburg Campus of HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, and announced a new industrial manufacturing technician apprenticeship.

“Employers across Pennsylvania need trained and skilled workers and apprenticeships give young people and experienced workers the chance to earn while they learn,” said Gov. Tom Wolf. “Creating new apprenticeship programs not only helps meet the needs of regional employers, but provides job seekers with training that leads to family-sustaining jobs.”

After the tour concluded, Cipriani announced the department’s Apprenticeship and Training Office approved a second cohort of HACC’s Industrial Manufacturing Technician Apprenticeship Program. The apprentices learn quality, production and maintenance skills.

“Apprenticeship programs like this are a great example of state agencies, education and local businesses collaborating to help meet regional employment needs,” said Cipriani said. “These types of partnerships are a win-win for employees as well because they help direct valuable training dollars to the industries and sectors that are actively seeking skilled workers.”

Representatives from SCPa Works and Hanes Pure Protein joined on the tour of classrooms and a mechatronics lab.

“This Industrial Manufacturing Technician Apprenticeship Program at HACC was developed in conjunction with industry experts to help companies fill the skills gap that exists. This program will allow a dedicated pipeline of ‘ready-to-work’ individuals to fill vacancies in much-needed jobs in Central Pennsylvania’s manufacturing industries,” said Lauren Holubec, director of manufacturing and logistics in HACC’s Workforce Development and Continuing Education Division.

The Wolf administration established the Apprenticeship and Training Office in 2016 to support and expand apprenticeships. Programs registered through the office provide employer-driven training to create a more productive, diverse, highly skilled workforce for employers and to help reduce employee turnover.

Job-seekers receive increased skills and a nationally recognized credential to support future career advancement and increased wages.

“We are excited about this program and thank Hain Pure Protein for their excitement and involvement in the creation of this second IMT cohort,” Holubec said. “The six students in the cohort will be made up of employees from Hain Pure Protein at the company’s New Oxford location and will attend classes and training at HACC’s Gettysburg Campus.”