The Pennsylvania College of Technology is partnering with local community colleges and creating dual enrollment and preapprenticeship options for Allentown School District students interested in industrial careers.
A $50,000 Job Training and Education Programs Grant from the state Department of Education will support the work to connect schools and employers and promote jobs in fields like polymer technology.
“The СŷƵ is experiencing a critical shortage of skilled labor, including the polymer sector,” Alison Diehl, Penn College vice president for workforce development, said in an email. “Our polymer-focused education and training programs address this unique gap, complementing and strengthening the region’s broader advanced manufacturing workforce development initiatives.”
Allentown students will join Penn College’s Advanced Manufacturing Pre-apprenticeship Program. The program began statewide operation in 2018 and enrolls students from 55 school districts, including СŷƵ high schools and charter schools.
“Our Advanced Manufacturing Pre-apprenticeship Program equips students with both foundational knowledge and hands-on skills to prepare them for entry-level roles in a variety of manufacturing careers, including positions like plastics process technician,” Diehl said.
Recruitment for the pilot program will begin in September 2025, and Allentown students will start their four-month preapprenticeships in spring semester 2026, district representatives said in an email. The first cohort will be 20 students. Juniors and seniors across the district can apply.
Allentown School District provides dual enrollment options through Lehigh Carbon Community College and Penn State- СŷƵ and offers a preapprenticeship program with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Penn College will work with local employers to encourage recruitment of interns and graduates.
“The AMP Program also prepares students to earn the nationally recognized Certified Manufacturing Associate credential from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers,” Diehl said. “The experience concludes with an industry networking and career event celebrating the students’ achievements and connecting them with potential employers.”
State Sen. Nick Miller and state Rep. Peter Schweyer, both D-Lehigh, supported the grant, which runs July 1 to June 30, 2026.
“This $50,000 grant is a strategic investment in the future of the СŷƵ. It will help build a stronger talent pipeline, create hands-on training opportunities in high-demand fields, and ensure our region is equipped to meet the needs of tomorrow’s industries,” Miller said in a May 29 news release.
This story has been updated: Nick Miller is a state senator. His title was incorrect in an earlier version.
