Regional College Receives Grant for Construction Training

Students can access new pre-apprenticeship training and certifications through the expanded state-funded program.

Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Financial Aid

Screen-print poster illustration of work gloves on wooden planks, evoking the regional construction workforce and educational opportunities in Pennsylvania. — Northern Pennsylvania Regional College received a $500,000 grant to expand its pre-apprenticeship program for students pursuing highway construction careers. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Northern Pennsylvania Regional College received a $500,000 grant to expand its pre-apprenticeship program for highway industry careers. The funding is part of a broader $12 million investment across 27 Pennsylvania educational institutions to help close state workforce gaps.

Why it matters

The grant allows the college to grow its Pathway 2 Build program, offering students direct pathways into construction careers. This state-backed initiative addresses pressing labor shortages by providing specialized training and industry-recognized certifications.

Northern Pennsylvania Regional College received a $500,000 grant from the PennDOT Career and Technical Education Program, part of a $12 million state-wide investment distributed among 27 educational institutions. The funding specifically supports the Pathway 2 Build pre-apprenticeship program.

The players

Northern Pennsylvania Regional College

A public college that provides accessible higher education and workforce development programs across its service region.

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

The state agency responsible for maintaining infrastructure and managing career and technical education grant programs.

Associated Builders and Contractors of Western Pennsylvania

A construction trade association that partners with academic institutions to provide apprenticeship and professional training.

The details

The grant allows the college to expand its existing pre-apprenticeship program, which provides hands-on learning for students entering the highway industry. Through a partnership with the Associated Builders and Contractors of Western Pennsylvania, participants earn essential credentials including OSHA and First Aid/CPR certifications. This structure directly translates state investment into expanded workforce training capacity for students interested in construction and skilled trades.

October 20, 2026: PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Department of Education announced the grant investment.

Education Landscape

This grant follows the established funding pattern of the PennDOT Career and Technical Education Program to integrate vocational training with state infrastructure needs. It reflects a growing focus on technical education as a primary tool to resolve labor gaps in the state construction sector.

Students interested in the construction and highway industry should contact the Northern Pennsylvania Regional College admissions or career center to inquire about enrollment in the Pathway 2 Build program. This expansion provides a direct opportunity to earn certifications like OSHA and First Aid/CPR while building career skills.

The takeaway

Workforce-focused grants offer students a way to gain industry-recognized credentials without the traditional time or cost of a degree. Prospective students should contact their local community or regional college to ask if they participate in state-funded pre-apprenticeship training initiatives.