In 2011, Jack Pfunder, CEO of the Manufacturers Resource Center in the Lehigh Valley, had the idea to create a student video contest to address outdated perceptions of manufacturing by showing students and parents what happens behind the doors of their local manufacturers. Ten years later, the What’s So Cool About Manufacturing contest continues to […]
Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development
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PA Department of Community and Economic Development
The mission of the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) is to foster opportunities for businesses to grow and for communities to succeed and thrive in a global economy. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for Pennsylvania citizens while assuring transparency and accountability in the expenditure of public funds.
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Harrisburg
Pennsylvania
17120
United States
#PAProud Blog: Manufacturing
Southwestern PA Training Center Funnels Skilled Workers into the Manufacturing Industry
October 10, 2023
New Century Careers (NCC) is working hard to make sure they are supporting southwestern Pennsylvania manufacturers by promoting the availability of their Manufacturing 2000 (M2K) program and through it, developing a skilled workforce that can continue to fuel the state’s historic manufacturing industry. Training Our Future Workforce The M2K program was created to back these […]
There’s no question that across the country, many manufacturers are facing challenges in filling open positions. Employers and economic development agencies are scrambling to facilitate training programs to provide essential skills to workers who can fill these positions. In the Lehigh Valley, where manufacturing is the second largest employment sector consisting of nearly 15% of […]
There may be some misconceptions about the manufacturing industry — and Northampton Community College (NCC) is doing something about it. For many people, and for a variety of reasons, traditional higher education just isn’t in their plans — whether it’s a matter of cost or being eager to jump right into the workforce. Regardless, most people seek […]
Utz® Pennsylvania proudly holds top rankings in dairy, produce, and livestock production, as well as high employment concentrations in food manufacturing. As we celebrate Manufacturing Week, October 6-13, 2023, there’s no better time to highlight one of the agribusiness sectors that we do best: snack foods. Since the founding of Pennsylvania, agribusiness has been a […]
Pennsylvania’s Industrial Resource Center (IRC) Network, comprised of seven not-for-profit organizations across the state, helps small to mid-sized manufacturers grow, thrive, and continue to be a vital part of Pennsylvania’s economy. The IRCs will expand their outreach to small and medium-sized businesses and continue to provide technical, strategic, and market-based assistance to manufacturers under the […]
International businesses thrive in Pennsylvania. But when looking for a potential location in the United States, many businesses can find it a daunting process. Thankfully, the Pennsylvania Office of International Business Development (OIBD) and its 13 overseas offices can help businesses navigate the process of setting up a U.S. entity in Pennsylvania, finding suitable sites, […]
The Manufacturing PA Training-to-Career Grant Program helps manufacturers identify and train a skilled workforce for current and future in-demand positions. It also addresses workforce barriers, engages youth, and showcases the opportunities in manufacturing. Grants up to $200,000 can be used for new training programs, internships, equipment purchases, and more. It’s a great way for schools, […]
The Foundations in Industry Training (FIT) Grants Program supports registered apprenticeship programs in Pennsylvania. By providing Pennsylvania employers with grants to help cover expenses related to instruction complementing on-the-job training, the program increases the availability of apprenticeship opportunities. A true win-win for both apprentices and employers hoping to recruit and train skilled talent. Germany is […]
Northampton Community College Almost a year ago, we highlighted how Northampton Community College (NCC) was supporting its surrounding manufacturing industry through its Micro-credentials in Manufacturing program, where thanks to funding from the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), anyone can access accelerated training for manufacturing industry job placement. And, almost a year ago, we […]
Jami Pasquinell Occupation: Executive Director In December of 2014, Jami Pasquinelli joined Pittsburgh’s Economic Development South (EDS) community development corporation as the commercial district manager in the Mt. Oliver and Knoxville neighborhoods. She spearheaded The Bakery Society Pittsburgh (TBSP) project after she started the “Sweet Saturdays” event with EDS — an opportunity for community bakers […]
Panther Boards is a student-run company at William Tennent High School that produces fully custom, high-performance skis. The business offers student employees a unique way to gain experience as entrepreneurs through taking on executive positions in marketing, finance, technology, human resources, product design, graphic design, supply chain management, and hands-on production. Panther Boards creates each […]
October is Pennsylvania Wine Month, when we celebrate the impressive wineries, wine trails, and wine-inspired events throughout the Keystone State. Not only do they serve as tourist attractions and a fun date or group retreat – wineries also have an incredible economic impact on the families running them and the Pennsylvania citizens who reap the […]
Elisabeth Smith Occupation: President and CEO Owned by Elisabeth Smith, Acutec Precision Aerospace is a forward-thinking, data-driven machining and subassembly supplier partner serving the aerospace industry. In June 2018, Acutec announced the expansion of its manufacturing facility, which will create 60 new manufacturing jobs. For almost five years, Smith has managed operations at Acutec, and […]
Sarah Murray Occupation: Librarian Employer: Blossburg Elementary School and Liberty Elementary School Blossburg Elementary School and Liberty Elementary School, both part of the Southern Tioga School District, transformed portions of their respective libraries into makerspaces, enabling students to tinker, explore, and creatively involve themselves in the world of Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics […]
Krista Fox Occupation: Research and Development Employer: Fox Meadows Creamery The Fox family started their dairy farm in the 1950s in Lancaster County, developing it into a leader in milk quality, animal husbandry, and milk production. Today, Fox Meadows Creamery offers a true cow-to-cone experience, creating hand-crafted ice cream with milk straight from their dairy […]
Matric, Group Seneca-based Matric Group provides world-class electronic manufacturing services for commercial, industrial, medical equipment, and aerospace markets. We spoke with president and chief executive officer Rick Turner to learn how the fast-growing, innovative company utilized the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) program to continually invest in its future with upgraded machinery and job training. […]
Kurt Mershimer Occupation: Project Engineer/Operations Manager Employer: DuraEdge Products DuraEdge specializes in the production of top-quality engineered soil products for the baseball and softball field industry. They provide long-term soil solutions — not just seasonal quick fixes — to clients at every level of play, from community parks to professional stadiums. How did you get […]
Plastek Group, Erie Plastek Group is a world-class manufacturer of plastics packaging for the personal care, home care, food and beverage, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. Headquartered in Erie, Pa., Plastek also has facilities in North Carolina, the United Kingdom, Brazil, and Mexico offering industrial design, product and packaging development, mold design and injection, assembly, and […]
A manufacturer of one hundred percent organic, cold-pressed, high-pressure processed juices and nutrition shots, Lumi Juice relocated to Malvern, Pa. We spoke to Hillary Lewis Murray, founder and CEO at Lumi Juice, to find out why her company chose Pennsylvania and what it means to them to be doing business in the Keystone State. Seeking […]
The Drexel Center for Functional Fabrics, a regional hub for designing and prototyping smart fabrics, embodies the innovation, imagination, and legendary can-do spirit found in Pennsylvania. We toured the Center’s Shima Seiki Haute Technology Laboratory to learn how it creates fabrics that see, hear, sense, communicate, and even harvest energy. The Rise of the Internet […]
A third-generation family-run, homegrown business, The DelGrosso Family of Companies uniquely stands out as both an amusement park operator and a sauce manufacturer. The family operates a sauce plant in Blair County’s Tipton, Pa., on the premises of DelGrosso’s Amusement Park and Laguna Splash Water Park, America’s only Italian-themed water park. We recently spoke with […]
Part of what we do at the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) every day is to promote the manufacturing industry, showcasing the positive impact it has both on the state’s economy and on working families. How could we not, knowing the industry has an $84 billion impact on PA’s economy and the […]
As a national manufacturer of vinyl and aluminum windows and doors, Crystal Window & Door Systems operates five production facilities and has distribution in more than 40 states around the country. In 2015, Pennsylvania became one of their newest production facilities. We spoke to Steve Chen, Chief Operating Officer at Crystal Window & Door Systems, […]
This article was previously published on KeystoneEdge.com Drexel University is launching a new graduate program in peace engineering, an emerging field that mashes up engineering and applied sciences with the social sciences to resolve or reduce violent conflicts. It is the first academic program of its kind in the United States. According to Director James […]
Starting this month, the team from Keystone Edge — a digital magazine covering what’s next and best in Pennsylvania — will be giving #PAProud readers an inside look at each month’s issue. For November, it’s all about making things in Pennsylvania — past, present, and future. Our lead story looks at the maker movement across […]
Manufacturing is the foundation of Pennsylvania’s economy — our state boasts a deep heritage and rich legacy in the industry. Throughout the history of our nation, Pennsylvania has been a leader in manufacturing, and today, our unique blend of world-class R&D institutions, technology commercialization programs, technical and industrial resources, and our skilled workforce create a […]