Catalyst Connection Receives $2 Million ARC POWER Grant to Help Create Pathways to Employment in Advanced Manufacturing
Exciting news from Catalyst Connection: We’ve secured a transformative $2 million ARC POWER grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission! This substantial funding fuels our Forging Your Future initiative, crafted to cultivate a dynamic and skilled advanced manufacturing workforce across southwestern Pennsylvania.
“With manufacturing driving a $12 billion economy and employing almost 90,000 people in southwestern Pennsylvania, it’s a beacon of hope and prosperity for Appalachian communities,” says Petra Mitchell, Catalyst Connection’s President and CEO. “Manufacturing not only offers competitive salaries and promising career paths but also sparks community rejuvenation. Every single manufacturing job generates an additional 2.6 jobs, amplifying economic vitality across the region. Success for manufacturing companies and their workforce translates to prosperity for all.”
Our Forging Your Future project is introducing a comprehensive, three-tiered training plan to arm Appalachians with the crucial skills needed for cutting-edge manufacturing sectors, such as:
- Clean energy
- Robotics
- Automation and machine learning
- National defense supply chain
Participants will embark on a structured training journey:
1. Pre-Apprenticeship Programs: Budding professionals can dive into pre-apprenticeship training, setting them up for immediate manufacturing roles post-high school.
2. Registered Apprenticeships: Those completing pre-apprenticeships, along with other job seekers, can seamlessly transition into full-time, paid, on-the-job training through registered apprenticeships, gaining invaluable field experience.
3. State-of-the-Art Learning Labs: In the final phase, participants can enhance their expertise in advanced learning labs, equipping them to tackle the challenges of modern manufacturing technologies.
Catalyst Connection and our partners are unwavering in our dedication to fostering enduring economic progress by empowering Appalachians with the tools to excel in the swiftly advancing manufacturing arena. To read more about the ARC POWER grant, click here.
A press event for this announcement took place on Wednesday, October 16th, at Mill 19 in Pittsburgh. Featured speakers included Petra Mitchell, President & CEO of Catalyst Connection; Gayle Manchin, Federal Co-Chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC); and Pennsylvania Representative Summer Lee.
