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

The Manufacturers Resource Center in Lehigh County 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. “MRC is also honored about the administration’s commitment to expand the PA Dream Team program, where young professionals from area manufacturers are trained to share their career stories to K-12 students through presentations and project-based activities.”