Sign In
Upcoming Event
Free Newsletter
L&I Secretary Nancy A. Walker said worker misclassification has real consequences for wages, workplace protections, and fair competition. PHOTO/PACAST
Lehigh Valley gains state investment in manufacturing program
Ed Gruver//December 9, 2025//
Listen to this articleLehigh County is among the Pennsylvania counties receiving a total of nearly $4.2 million in advanced manufacturing training programs.
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) announced the investment to strengthen and support the commonwealth’s workforce.
“Under Governor Shapiro‘s leadership, we’re making bold, strategic investments to grow our workforce, expand apprenticeship opportunities, and ensure that people across the commonwealth have a pathway to success,” L&I Secretary Nancy Walker said in a statement. “Advanced manufacturing is the backbone of so many industries here in Pennsylvania and investing in the workers who power that sector is essential to keeping our economy strong.
“This funding will help more Pennsylvanians access high-quality training, earn industry-recognized credentials, and step into good-paying careers that are built to last.”
According to a release, each organization selected to receive Supporting PA’s Advanced Manufacturing Sector grant funding went through a competitive process; the investments are 100% state funded.
Among the nine organizations are receiving a total of $1,797,228 to expand existing training programs:
Industrial Training and Education Consortium of Lehigh Valley ($198,481) – iTEC will support the expansion of the mechatronics, industrial manufacturing technician, laboratory tester, quality control inspector, and numerical control machinist operator apprenticeship programs (for which GACC Philadelphia is the sponsor). This expansion will serve Lehigh, Northampton, Bucks, and Schuylkill counties.
