Harrisburg, PA – Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) announced a nearly $4.2 million investment in advanced manufacturing registered pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs, as part of Governor Josh Shapiro’s commitment to strengthening and supporting the Commonwealth’s workforce for generations to come.
The Governor’s 2025-26 budget continues to make bold investments in apprenticeships, vo-tech classes, and the hands-on education initiatives his Administration has brought back to Pennsylvania schools. Key workforce development investments made in the budget include $12.5 million for apprenticeship training programs, $3.5 million for the Schools-to-Work Program, and $2.8 million for Industry Partnerships.
“Under Governor Shapiro’s leadership, we’re making bold, strategic investments to grow our workforce, expand apprenticeship opportunities, and ensure that people across the Commonwealth have a pathway to success,” said L&I Secretary Nancy A. Walker. “Advanced manufacturing is the backbone of so many industries here in Pennsylvania and investing in the workers who power that sector is essential to keeping our economy strong. This funding will help more Pennsylvanians access high-quality training, earn industry-recognized credentials, and step into good-paying careers that are built to last.”
Each organization selected to receive Supporting PA’s Advanced Manufacturing Sector grant funding went through a competitive process; the investments are 100 percent state funded.
Six organizations are receiving a total of $2,399,560 to start new training programs:
Lancaster Co. Workforce Development Board ($399,983)
LCWDB will support the development of a new robotics technician pre-apprenticeship program serving Lancaster County.
The Philadelphia Academies, Inc. ($399,765)
PAI will support the development of a new advanced manufacturing pre-apprenticeship program serving Philadelphia County.
Community College of Philadelphia ($400,000)
CCP will support the development of a new industrial maintenance mechanic apprenticeship program serving Philadelphia County.
Advance Central PA ($400,000)
Advance Central PA will support the development of a new advanced manufacturing pre-apprenticeship program serving Centre County.
Community College of Allegheny County ($400,000)
Community College of Allegheny County will support the development of a new electrical maintenance technician/robotics apprenticeship program serving Allegheny, Greene, and Washington counties.
Philadelphia Works, Inc. ($399,812)
Philadelphia Works, Inc. will support the development of a new welding apprenticeship program serving Philadelphia County.
Nine organizations are receiving a total of $1,797,228 to expand existing training programs:
The Manufacturers’ Association ($200,000)
The Manufacturers’ Association will expand its manufacturing apprenticeship programs serving York, Lancaster, Lebanon, Franklin, Dauphin, Cumberland, Adams, Perry, and Chester counties.
Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters’ Technical Centers ($200,000)
The Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters’ – with training centers in Lebanon, Philadelphia, and Allegheny counties – will expand their millwright apprenticeship program.
German American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. – Pittsburgh Chapter ($200,000)
GACC-PIT will expand its mechatronics technician apprenticeship program serving Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Greene, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Somerset, Venango, Warren, Washington, and Westmoreland counties.
Team Trade Program ($199,280)
This investment will support the expansion of Carnegie Mellon’s Robotics Academy pre-apprenticeship program serving Allegheny County.
North Central Workforce Development Board ($200,000)
The North Central WDB will support the expansion of various existing apprenticeship programs in the powder metal, carbon and graphite, machine shop, glass container manufacturing, and sawmill industries serving Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson, McKean, and Potter counties.
Industrial Training and Education Consortium of Lehigh Valley ($198,481)
iTEC will support the expansion of the mechatronics, industrial manufacturing technician, laboratory tester, quality control inspector, and numerical control machinist operator apprenticeship programs (for which GACC Philadelphia is the sponsor). This expansion will serve Lehigh, Northampton, Bucks, and Schuylkill counties.
Pittsburgh National Machining and Tooling Foundation ($199,467)
The Pittsburgh National Machining and Tooling Foundation will expand its machinist apprenticeship program serving Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler, Beaver, Cambria, Fayette, Indiana, Somerset, Washington, and Westmoreland counties.
Catalyst Connection ($200,000)
Catalyst Connection will expand its industrial manufacturing technician apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs serving Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, and Indiana counties.
Community College of Philadelphia ($200,000)
CCP will expand its industrial maintenance mechanic pre-apprenticeship program serving Philadelphia County.
Governor Shapiro is serious about getting workforce development done. Since the start of his Administration, Pennsylvania has launched 125 new registered apprenticeship programs, and 69 new registered pre-apprenticeship programs, empowering thousands of Pennsylvanians to chart their own course and get the training they need for good, family-sustaining jobs.
Established in 2016, L&I's Apprenticeship and Training Office (ATO) is responsible for guiding and promoting the expansion and compliance of all registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs across the Commonwealth. The ATO currently supports 846 unduplicated program sponsors, 138 registered pre-apprenticeship programs, and 1,417 occupation-specific registered apprenticeship programs across the Commonwealth, with 15,965 registered apprentices currently active.
Since Governor Shapiro took office, the ATO has approved the creation of 194 new registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, and enrolled more than 17,100 new apprentices.
For more information on the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, please visit the website or follow L&I on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X.
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