Program participants pay no tuition, and training costs are underwritten by private foundations, manufacturers and the state government. The courses are short, ranging from seven to 21 weeks. Usually, they are held in the evenings so that participants can still continue to work. The grant will holp fund an advanced manufacturing education program for about 300 workers employed in metals-based industries. The nonprofit, based in the Regional Enterprise Tower, Downtown, is working with a consortium of 78 southwestern Pennsylvania manufacturing firms to design curriculum.
Classes are to begin early next year.
The nonprofit has experience in job training and placement. Its Manufacturing 2000 program prepares workers for entry-level jobs as machinists, welders and electronics assembly workers. NCC has grand goals centered around the need to recruit, develop and retain skilled manufacturing workers. They include assessmg occupational need of employers, creating a pool of skilled labor, scrving as a catalyst to upgrade training facilities and consulting on human rcsourcc issues.