The Manufacturers' Association was selected as a recipient of a Pennsylvania Industry Partnership grant for $350,000. The grant was awarded through the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry as part of a statewide $2.8 million investment announced by Gov. Josh Shapiro's administration on April 13. The Manufacturers' Association has been awarded $350,000 to advance the South Central Manufacturing Industry Partnership, serving manufacturers and workers across Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, and York counties.

Through the Manufacturing Industry Partnership, the Manufacturers' Association will lead a comprehensive, employer-driven workforce strategy focused on five key areas. The association will seek to promote manufacturing careers to attract a strong, motivated, qualified, and diverse pool of candidates ready to enter and thrive in today's manufacturing environment. It will also facilitate education and adoption of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) tools to ensure regional manufacturers remain competitive in an evolving industrial landscape. Another key area is aggregating technical skills training so manufacturers may leverage cost efficiencies, deliver high-quality training that is accessible to smaller manufacturers, and create clear career advancement pathways for workers. The association will also facilitate best practice peer learning and deepen supply chain collaboration across the southcentral Pennsylvania manufacturing community. Finally, the industry partnership will bring together organizations in economic development, education, industry, and workforce development, including the local workforce boards of SCPa Works and the Lancaster County Workforce Development Board.

The industry partnership model is built on the principle that employers, educators, workforce development organizations, economic development agencies, labor entities, and community partners are strongest when they work together. For more than 20 years, the Manufacturers' Association has championed this collaborative approach, and the new grant enables the association to deepen those connections across the region.

The grant to the Manufacturers' Association is one of 10 industry partnership grants. Shapiro has also proposed a $3.5 million increase in industry partnership funding in his 2026-27 budget, which would bring the total state investment to $6.3 million.

Manufacturers interested in participating in the no-cost industry partnership may contact the Manufacturers' Association at office@mascpa.org or 717-843-3891. More information about the Manufacturers' Association is available at http://www.mascpa.org.