WILLIAMSPORT, PA — Pennsylvania officials on Wednesday showcased a new bus maintenance technician apprenticeship at the Pennsylvania College of Technology, highlighting a $12.5 million statewide investment aimed at expanding job training and strengthening the workforce in high-demand fields.
Labor & Industry Secretary Nancy A. Walker toured the Williamsport campus to spotlight the new registered apprenticeship program, which was launched with a $600,000 investment from the Shapiro administration and currently enrolls 14 apprentices. The program is designed to train technicians for careers in public transportation while allowing participants to earn wages as they learn.
State leaders said the initiative reflects a broader push by Governor Josh Shapiro to expand apprenticeships across Pennsylvania, particularly in emerging and critical sectors such as transportation.
Apprenticeships offer a direct pipeline into skilled jobs, Walker said, providing employers with trained workers while helping ensure the safety and reliability of transportation systems that communities depend on every day.
The bus maintenance technician program is part of a larger workforce strategy outlined in the governor’s 2025–26 budget, which includes $183 million for career and technical education and registered apprenticeships. That funding level represents an increase of more than 50 percent compared to when Shapiro first took office.
Additional workforce investments in the budget include $3.5 million for the Schools-to-Work Program and $2.8 million for Industry Partnerships, both aimed at connecting students and workers with employers and in-demand careers.
Walker was joined during the visit by state Sen. Gene Yaw, R-23, who praised Penn College for aligning higher education with workforce needs through hands-on training and apprenticeship opportunities.
The visit also included demonstrations of the bus maintenance apprenticeship’s practical training and a tour of the Dunham Children’s Learning Center, which provides on-campus child care and education for students, faculty, and staff.
Penn College officials said the apprenticeship reflects a collaborative approach to developing skilled technicians while supporting local communities and public transportation systems.
Since its creation in 2016, the Department of Labor & Industry’s Apprenticeship and Training Office has overseen the expansion of registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs statewide. Under the Shapiro administration, the office has supported the creation of 206 new programs and enrolled more than 17,380 new apprentices across Pennsylvania.
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