Robbins Announces $750,000 in State Aid for Precision Manufacturing Institute

Provides equipment, tuition assistance for Meadville area workforce training

Harrisburg – State Senator Bob Robbins (R-50) today announced that he has secured $750,000 in state funds to boost training in the local tooling industry.

Robbins said the funds for the Precision Manufacturing Institute (PMI) were placed in the Department of Labor & Industry's 2005-06 budget. PMI is located in the Crawford County Industrial Park in Vernon Township and uses equipment and training to produce a skilled workforce in the Meadville area.

"Fortunately, my position in Senate leadership gives me an opportunity to secure funds that benefit working families in our region. This is the sixth straight year -- spanning the administrations of three governors -- that I've been able to have funding for Precision Manufacturing Institute placed in the state budget," said Robbins. The funds will be used to help PMI pay for operations, develop or purchase new equipment, and provide tuition assistance.

PMI works closely with Edinboro University and has agreements with other colleges, universities, vo-techs and school districts in the region to train students. PMI serves a 45-mile-wide area around Meadville that includes 276 tooling and machine shops with nearly 9,650 employees and an economic impact of approximately $250 million in wages and $2.5 billion in sales.

"Employers in the region recognize the benefits that PMI brings to their industry and have invested more than $34 million locally in new technology and equipment in the last six years," said Robbins. "When companies are looking to locate somewhere, they look at the availability of skilled workers. That's why training, such as PMI, is a high priority. We want local companies to stay here, and companies looking to relocate to come here."

CONTACT: Mike Hengst (717) 787-1322