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(Delaware and Chester Counties, PA)—The Delaware County Community College Educational Foundation has been awarded a $300,390 grant from the Chappell Culpeper Family Foundation to launch the Manufacturing Pathways Initiative, a comprehensive education-to-employment model designed to strengthen the Greater Philadelphia manufacturing workforce while expanding access to family-sustaining careers through free training. The grant is intended to support low-income individuals who face barriers to education and employment.
The initiative directly addresses two critical regional challenges. The first is the “GED barrier,” which prevents otherwise highly capable adults who have not yet earned their GED—the high school equivalency credential accepted by most colleges and employers—from accessing financial aid and technical training. The second is the acute labor shortage caused by an aging manufacturing workforce.
The grant will enable DCCC to offer a seamless, tuition-free pathway that moves students from GED preparation through industry-aligned technical certificates and the option—immediately or in the future—to continue into an associate degree in Applied Science. Students will be able to integrate GED instruction and preparation with either a 34-credit Computer Numerical Control (CNC) manufacturing certificate or a 15-credit Computer-Aided Drafting (CADD) certificate.
A CNC manufacturing certificate qualifies students for a variety of entry-level roles in manufacturing, machining and industrial production in industries including aerospace, automotive, medical device manufacturing, defense contracting, energy, metal fabrication, plastics manufacturing, robotics and industrial equipment manufacturing.
A CADD certificate opens the door to entry-level opportunities in design, drafting, engineering support, manufacturing and construction in industries such as civil engineering, manufacturing, aerospace and defense, utilities and more.
“This grant allows us to remove barriers to education and create new opportunities for local residents to enter high-demand manufacturing careers,” said Dr. Karen Kozachyn, DCCC’s Vice President of Workforce and Economic Development. “By combining GED preparation with industry-recognized technical training, we’re building a stronger workforce pipeline that benefits both our students and the region’s employers.”
DCCC has a long history of providing skilled trades training programs which closely match the needs of regional business and industry. Classes are available at the College’s Marple Campus and at the Southeast Center in Drexel Hill. For more information on the Manufacturing Pathways Initiative, call 610-355-7156 or email workforceeconomicdev@dccc.edu