DCED Secretary Davin Participates in Manufacturing Celebration for Students, Highlights Governor Wolf's 2017-18 Manufacturing PA Budget Initiatives

News provided by

Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development

Feb 28, 2017, 18:31 ET

BETHLEHEM, Pa., Feb. 28, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This evening, Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Davin participated in the "What's So Cool About Manufacturing?" student video contest awards program, providing remarks on the strength and vitality of the commonwealth's manufacturing sector and highlighting the Manufacturing PA initiative in Governor Tom Wolf's 2017-18 budget proposal.

"It's essential that manufacturers have a proactive plan in place to provide workforce solutions from both a company and community perspective. If we encourage students' interest in manufacturing through events like "What's So Cool About Manufacturing?" and work to establish a talent pipeline for the future, Pennsylvania will have a competitive advantage," said Sec. Davin. "To that end, Governor Wolf's 2017-18 budget proposal continues to invest in a highly skilled, highly trained, 21st century workforce. The Manufacturing PA initiative, for example, links job training to career pathways, ensuring that training leads to careers that provide higher pay and opportunities for advancement."

Through Manufacturing PA, Governor Wolf will invest in manufacturing by:

Partnering with the commonwealth's research universities and IRCs to accelerate manufacturing technology advancement and adoption, foster manufacturing innovation and commercialization, and build a 21st century workforce of highly skilled, highly trained workers.
Creating a new apprenticeship program to ensure that workers receive training aligned to business workforce needs, funded with revenue recovered from DCED-assisted companies that have failed to meet their commitments required for state assistance.
Investing $5 million for a training-to-career grant program through which manufacturers receive funds to partner with technical programs and community college to develop new training programs that align with their workforce needs.

Developed by Manufacturer's Resource Center, "What's So Cool About Manufacturing?" is a video-based educational tool that increases awareness of career paths in manufacturing. This contest gives students the opportunity to connect with local manufacturers, document their experiences, and present them in an educational way. The Lehigh Valley contest is expanding across the commonwealth and the country.

"We are very pleased to launch WSCM for its fourth year here in the Lehigh Valley," said Jack Pfunder, MRC president and CEO. "The program's success is spreading across Pennsylvania and around the country. The program, which promotes STEM education, helps foster a new understanding of opportunities in manufacturing careers. We are very grateful to our teaming partners at PBS39, DaVinci Science Center, and Lehigh Valley Workforce Development Board, who help make this program a success."

For additional information on Dream It. Do It. Pennsylvania or the "What's So Cool About Manufacturing?" contest, visit, dreamitdoitpa.com.

MEDIA CONTACT: David Misner, 717-783-1132

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development