Gov. Tom Wolf has announced new funding for a project to boost manufacturing awareness for students in Lehigh County through Pennsylvania’s Manufacturing Training-to-Career program.

The program helps bring awareness to careers and opportunities within the state’s manufacturing industry and supports companies in identifying and training a skilled workforce through targeted programs and service.

“Pennsylvania is renowned for its manufacturing industry, which has advanced and grown tremendously over the past several decades, which means there is an increasing need for new technology and a workforce to support its growth,” Wolf said on March 4. “For young students who have limited knowledge about manufacturing or who are still undecided on their future plans, increased and early awareness programs like this can be a major turning point.

“This funding will promote manufacturing careers and support and prepare students throughout the process of training and obtaining employment.”

The Manufacturers Resource Center, Allentown, was approved for $192,500 in funding to develop two programs to respond to the manufacturing industry’s technological innovation and subsequent need for workers with a broader set of technical competencies.

The funding will allow the Manufacturers Resource Center to develop the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) program and the PA Dream Team program to engage and recruit potential future employees and provide on-the-job training following graduation.

The STEAM program will work with five local high schools and 10 local manufacturers and the PA Dream Team program will work with 12 local manufacturers in two pilot programs.

“MRC is eager to develop a program that gives high school students the opportunity to collaborate with area manufacturers and get the word out to graduating seniors about lucrative careers in advanced technology through the STEAM Club initiative,” said MRC Manager of Workforce Initiatives Karen Buck.

Training-to-Career grants support projects that result in short-term work-readiness, job placement, or the advancement of manufacturing.

The Manufacturing PA Training-to-Career program works collaboratively with local manufacturers to identify and teach missing essential skills for entry level applicants seeking manufacturing employment, engage youth or those with barriers to career opportunities in manufacturing, and or advance capacity for local or regional manufacturers.