Luzerne County Community College Joins Governor Shapiro in Championing Workforce Development at IBEW Local 163 Press Conference

Luzerne County Community College (LCCC) Vice President of Enrollment Management & Student Success, Holly K. Pilcavage, joined Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and workforce leaders Friday August 15th at the IBEW Local 163 Training Center to highlight the Commonwealth's growing investments in career training, apprenticeships, and pathways to high-paying jobs.*

"Here at the IBEW Local 163 Training Center in Luzerne County and across Pennsylvania, we're investing in all paths to success-- and building the best workforce in the nation," said Governor Shapiro.

In her remarks, Pilcavage emphasized the vital role LCCC plays in preparing students for in-demand careers through education, hands-on training, and strong partnerships with business and industry.

"As the largest and most accessible college in Northeastern Pennsylvania, serving over 7,000 students across eight locations, LCCC is building real, tangible solutions to meet workforce needs," Pilcavage said. "We are proud to work alongside Governor Shapiro to ensure our students and workers are ready for high-paying, high-demand jobs in our region."

Pilcavage highlighted several initiatives that directly align with Pennsylvania's workforce priorities:

Career & Technology Academy ? Gives high school students from Career & Technical Centers the opportunity to earn college credits and industry-recognized skills before graduation. Thanks to a PDE Dual Credit Innovation Grant, tuition is covered for the first two years, eliminating a major barrier to access.

Micro-Credential Academy ? Provides targeted training in high-demand fields like AI in manufacturing, industrial maintenance, welding, and heavy equipment operation, developed in direct partnership with local employers.

Construction & Trade Pre-Apprenticeship Academy ? In collaboration with the Pennsylvania Building & Construction Trades, creates a clear on-ramp into union apprenticeship programs and high-wage careers.

"These programs are built with one goal in mind: preparing individuals to step confidently into the jobs driving our region's growth, from high-tech data centers to advanced manufacturing to the skilled trades," Pilcavage said.

Governor Shapiro's administration has made significant workforce investments, including increasing funding for vocational, technical, and apprenticeship programs by nearly $65 million since 2022, creating 165 new pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship programs, and training more than 34,000 apprentices across Pennsylvania.

Shapiro has also championed record-setting projects, such as Amazon's $20 billion data center investment, which will create 10,000 building trades jobs in Pennsylvania, and invested in Local 163's growth through more than $1.34 million in state funding since 2022.

"At Luzerne County Community College, we are ready to meet the workforce needs of today while building the talent pipeline for tomorrow," Pilcavage said. "We thank Governor Shapiro for championing apprenticeships, partnerships, and opportunities that meet the moment for Pennsylvania."