LAWRENCE COUNTY, Pa. – The Advanced Manufacturing Pre-Apprenticeship Program recently celebrated its largest Lawrence County cohort, highlighting continued growth in an initiative designed to connect high school students with careers in manufacturing.
The program, facilitated by Pennsylvania College of Technology, recognized 42 students who completed the program this year. A total of 45 students enrolled, making it the third and largest Lawrence County cohort since the program launched in the region.
Pennsylvania College of Technology provides the program at no cost to participating schools or students through a Build Back Better grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. The funding covers classroom instruction and three hands-on laboratory experiences.
Students also can earn up to $1,000 in stipends and receive a Certified Manufacturing Associate credential from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers.
Forward Lawrence introduced the program to Lawrence County in 2024. Lawrence Mercer Manufacturers Coalition joined the effort in 2025, providing program management and student stipends through a Pennsylvania Industry Partnership grant.
The program also expanded into Mercer County this year with its first pilot cohort of eight students at Farrell High School. The expansion was facilitated by Penn-Northwest Development Corp. with support from additional Pennsylvania Industry Partnership funding and a grant from the Hoyt Foundation.
The recognition ceremony also gave students an opportunity to meet with area manufacturers seeking employees, including Flowline Fittings, Berner Air Curtains, G.W. Becker Inc. and FirmaPak.
“The AMP program is an opportunity for young people to explore manufacturing careers and see what it entails,” said Autumn Bonzo, director of HR at Flowline Fittings. “The program allows Flowline and other employers to get in front of the students who have a general interest in manufacturing and determine if our employment opportunities align with their goals to help them build a meaningful career.”