Governor Wolf Announces Funding to Support Classroom Training in Apprenticeship Programs for Four Central Pennsylvania Companies

This post was originally published on Governor.pa.gov on June 13, 2018.

Harrisburg, PA – Today, Governor Wolf announced the approval of apprenticeship grants to four central Pennsylvania businesses to assist with the costs of necessary classroom training that complements on-the-job training, enabling the companies to strengthen and expand their apprenticeship programs. The funding, which will build on the governor’s commitment to expanding job training opportunities for Pennsylvanians, was approved for Tooling Dynamics, Billet Industries, Inc., Flinchbaugh Engineering, Inc., and Phoenix Contact USA.

“By expanding our support of apprenticeship programs, we’re strengthening Pennsylvania’s workforce and helping companies secure fully-trained, long-term workers,” Governor Wolf said. “This funding will enable these four companies in the heart of Pennsylvania to build on the success of their training programs and help put workers on reliable middle-class career pathways. It’s a great example of how we can work with the private sector to empower workers and boost Pennsylvania’s economy.”

Apprenticeship programs provide access to career pathways and enable apprentices to develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to compete in today’s economy. Classroom training is a required component of registered apprenticeship programs across Pennsylvania and complements traditional on-the-job training. The technical material taught in a classroom environment enables apprentices to learn fundamental concepts, terminology, procedures, safety requirements, and basic tools and instruments.

The four grant awards, which will support the classroom portion of the companies’ existing registered apprenticeship programs, are as follows:

• $43,943 over three years to Tooling Dynamics, a micro-precision stamping company in York County, to support machinist, maintenance machinist, and tool and die maker apprentices;
• $29,700 over three years to Flinchbaugh Engineering, an employee-owned contract manufacturing company of machined parts in York County, to support precision machinist apprentices;
• $4,340 over two years to Billet Industries, a provider of precision machining and fabrication services in York County, to support machinist apprentices ; and
• $18,000 over three years to Phoenix Contact USA, a developer and manufacturer of industrial electrical and electronic technology products in Dauphin County, to support mechatronics technician and maintenance repairer apprentices.

Apprenticeship programs are a key component of Governor Wolf’s PAsmart proposal designed to strengthen Pennsylvania’s workforce. As part of the governor’s 2018-2019 budget proposal, PAsmart would improve coordination across commonwealth agencies and invest $50 million to improve access for Pennsylvania students and workers to education, training, and career readiness programs. That investment includes an additional $7 million to support apprenticeships, with the goal of doubling the number of registered apprentices in Pennsylvania by 2025. Working collaboratively with the business community, community colleges, and other higher education providers, funds will support youth pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship experiences as well as adult apprenticeship programs at the postsecondary level.

PAsmart would also build on the Wolf Administration’s Apprenticeship Training Office (ATO) which the administration established in 2016 to support and expand registered apprenticeship programs statewide. Since the ATO was created in early 2016, the office has registered 107 new sponsors and 149 new apprenticeship programs or occupations, bringing the total number of registered apprentices to 15,476 statewide.