Millersville U, Precision Cobotics, Lancaster County Workforce Development Board Receive $350,000 Grant from PA Dept. of Labor and Industry

Millersville University of Pennsylvania and Precision Cobotics, partners in the Robotic WorX program, will receive nearly $350,000 from the Lancaster County Workforce Development Board. The Board was one of six organizations that received Supporting PA's Advanced Manufacturing Sector grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry to start new training programs.

The funding is part of a nearly $4.2 million investment in advanced manufacturing registered pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs, as part of Gov. Josh Shapiro's commitment to strengthening and supporting the Commonwealth's workforce for generations to come.

"This opportunity to partner with the Lancaster County Workforce Development Board and Precision Cobotics illustrates the partnerships Millerville is developing in our community," said Dr. John Haughery, associate professor of automation and electronics technologies and coordinator of the Automation and Robotics Engineering Technology Program. "It also underscores the significant role the University is playing in strengthening the workforce in our region."

The award will support the development of a new robotics technician pre-apprenticeship program serving Lancaster County.

"The Robotic WorX Lab has already provided significant real-world learning opportunities for students at Millersville University and from schools in the Lancaster County region," said Dr. Marc Harris, dean of the College of Science and Technology. "This L&I grant will allow us to offer formalized pre-apprenticeship training lanes for even more students leading to outstanding workforce development outcomes."

"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," said L&I Secretary Nancy A. Walker. "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."