PMI Receives $750,000 Workforce Development Grant

State funding to support training programs for local residents

Precision Manufacturing Institute (PMI) located in Meadville and in the Shenango Valley recently received a $750,000 state grant to support its efforts to provide practical training for residents of Northwest Pennsylvania, according to Senator Bob Robbins (R-50).

Senator Robbins worked to include PMI's Workforce Development Grant as part of the state's Fiscal Year 2008-09 Budget.

"The current economy makes job training programs such as those offered by PMI all that more valuable. To its credit, and despite increasing unemployment rates, more than 90 percent of the individuals who completed PMI training are working," Senator Robbins said. "I am proud that I was able to secure this grant to support PMI's training programs and the men and women who benefit from them."

PMI is a non-profit technical training provider established to meet the need for quality manufacturing employees. PMI works with employers to develop customized training programs to develop and upgrade the skills of manufacturing employees. The Workforce Development Grant funding will be used to train residents of Crawford, Erie, Lawrence, Mercer, Forest, Venango, and Warren Counties. There are 1,370 manufacturing-based companies located in this region.

"The truth is today's modern manufacturing industry is nothing like it was even a few years ago," Senator Robbins said. "Computers and other technological breakthroughs have changed those companies forever and employees must have a whole new set of skills in order to be productive members of the workforce. This training supported by this state grant gives our local residents a distinct advantage in securing and succeeding in those jobs."

PMI started training students in the manufacturing industry in 1987 in Meadville. Conceived and developed by local industry representatives and tool shop owners, with a mission to provide manufacturing training. PMI-Meadville and PMI-Shenango Valley are now licensed private schools with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and PMI-Meadville is nationally accredited by ACCSCT (Accrediting Commission for Career School and Colleges of Technology).

"Without the support of Senator Robbins in helping to obtain this grant for PMI, we would not be able to offer the training and services that we provide to the residents of Northwest Pennsylvania," stated Jerry Knight, the Executive Director of PMI. "This grant is critical to our operation and Senator Robbins has been a champion in making sure that residents of his district have the opportunity to take the training necessary to find employment."

PMI continues to work closely with area manufacturers and software developers to stay current with advances in technology. PMI offers diploma and certificate programs for students who are interested in pursuing a manufacturing career. PMI also works with manufacturing organizations by offering customized training programs for their employees and providing shared use time on PMI's state-of-the-industry equipment and software.

Contact:

Michael Hengst
(717) 787-1322