Johnson College Receives $50,000 POWER Planning Grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission

Johnson College has been awarded a $50,000 Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) planning grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to support the College in planning and developing a new vehicle maintenance technology laboratory.

The vehicle maintenance technology laboratory is one of four components of Johnson College’s comprehensive, five-year capital campaign, “Innovation at Work,” which focuses on creating an environment for growth and success. The laboratory will consolidate three of Johnson College’s four vehicle maintenance programs – Automotive, Heavy Equipment, and Diesel Truck Technology – into one efficiently shared space with the latest high-tech training equipment for traditional and electric vehicles, and advanced alternative fuel technologies. The three programs are all currently housed in different locations on the College’s Scranton Campus.

During this project’s planning and development phase, the College will combine programmatic review with industry partners’ and consultants’ recommendations to determine laboratory location, design, curriculum, and technologically advanced equipment that best meets the needs of the growing and changing transportation industry. The planning project will include a feasibility/site study phase and architectural design phase. Faculty and administration will also tour several successful industry and educational facilities to see best practices in operation.

Johnson College plans to match the funds from the POWER planning grant to further support the success of this project and its overall mission to provide the best industry-focused, hands-on learning that prepares students to enter the workforce and adapt to the changing needs of industry.

The POWER planning grant is part of the Appalachian Regional Commission’s Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) initiative. This initiative provides funding to support communities and regions affected by job losses in coal mining, coal power plant operations, and coal-related supply chain or logistics industries due to the changing economics of America’s energy production and the coal economy. The POWER Initiative supports efforts to create a more vibrant economic future for coal-impacted communities by cultivating economic diversity, enhancing job training and reemployment opportunities, creating jobs in existing or new industries, and attracting new sources of investment.

About the Appalachian Regional Commission

The Appalachian Regional Commission is an economic development entity of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 423 counties across the Appalachian Region. ARC’s mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation.

College Receives Grants from the Appalachian Regional Commission for Workforce Training

Johnson College has been awarded two Area Development Grants from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). These grants will support regional workforce training capabilities with campus-wide equipment upgrades and the development of two mobile training laboratories for STEM technology and building trades technology. The grants total $430,000 and include College matching funds of $215,000.

The mobile laboratories include 35’ trailers outfitted with student workstations and equipment for training in STEM and the building trades. Equipment is interchangeable and the laboratories will be configured as needed for hands-on education. While identical in the scope of flexible training capabilities, both the first and second mobile laboratories will be deployed in two unique equipment configurations depending on the location and need for each. They will serve different training needs at the same time.

The mobile training laboratories will be used to help develop a pipeline for students entering the trades by providing remote, hands-on learning to high school students that are enrolled in the College’s Dual Enrollment and Industry Fast Track programs. Using the latest tools and technology, younger students from rural school districts will experience first-hand, the wider range of STEM-related and building trades education and career opportunities available to them. Additionally, the College plans to deliver short-term, customized training programs at industry partner locations to enhance the skills of essential workers.

“These mobile labs will allow us to bring opportunities to those in rural areas who don’t currently have access to hands-on education due to barriers including distance and transportation,” said Dr. Katie Pittelli, Johnson College’s President and CEO. “I am excited that with support from the Appalachian Regional Commission, more people will have access to STEM and building trades training.”

The two cutting-edge mobile laboratories will serve Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Susquehanna, and Wayne counties. Both will help Johnson College reach more students and industry partners in rural locations and provide access to education and jobs that may not have existed, or been more difficult for them to previously obtain.

The new equipment funded under the grant will enable Johnson College to upgrade campus technology and deliver the most up-to-date training to students to prepare them to enter Appalachia’s growing essential workforce. Programs receiving technology upgrades include automotive technology, civil design, electrical engineering technology, heavy equipment technology, welding technology, electrical construction technology, biomedical equipment technology, and computer information technology.

This project will build the College’s capacity to help regional employers meet the growing demand to fill essential positions in the workforce and promote economic development, thus improving the economic prosperity of this region’s students, workers, industry, and communities.

About the Appalachian Regional Commission

The Appalachian Regional Commission is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 423 counties across the Appalachian Region. ARC’s mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the Region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation. For more information, visit www.arc.gov.