The Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) has awarded Northampton Community College a $199,843 Manufacturing PA Training-to-Career Grant to develop and implement Career Pathways in Manufacturing.

The eight-week, 160-hour program will introduce manufacturing training and apprenticeship programs to those seeking a new career but may face barriers to employment. The program is free to participants.

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.

“NCC’s training-to-career programs change lives,” said Michele Salkin, program manager for trade and technical programs at the college.

Students in the program will have hands-on training at the FAB Lab, NCC’s maker space in the Fowler Family Southside Center. Students will visit local manufacturing companies.

The first class will begin in February.