HACC Exceeds $1 Million inGuaranteed Free Training to Area Businesses

Harrisburg Area Community College, a provider for the Guaranteed Free Training Program of the Workforce and Economic Development Network of Pennsylvania (WEDnetPA), has provided more than $1 million in workforce training in central Pennsylvania.

The Guaranteed Free Training Program provides $450 per trainee toward training costs and includes a guarantee of satisfaction for participating employers.

"Through this program, HACC enables local business to train new workers and provide skills needed to keep jobs here in Central Pennsylvania," says Mark Borger, Director of Workforce Development and head of the Guaranteed Free Training program at HACC.

Basic skill training elements offered through the program at HACC include:

• Communications and teamwork
• Computer training
• Product and process controlWorkplace behavior skills
• Applied mathematics and measurement
• Problem solving
• Quality assurance
• Manufacturing Fundamentals including blueprint reading, welding, soldering, tooling, grinding, setup, machine maintenance
• Business operations

The Guaranteed Free Training program at HACC is just one of the college's initiatives to address workforce needs. HACC educates more than 64,200 students in 2,300 adult and workforce training programs each year.

HACC's workforce development contracts have grown from 45 contracts in 1995, to 120 for the 1998-1999 academic year. Some of the companies in central Pennsylvania that have contracted training through HACC include:

• AMP, Incorporated, Harrisburg
• Bayer Corporation, Myerstown
• Burnham Corporation, Lancaster
• Cloister Spring Water Company, Lancaster
• Cumberland County Housing and Redevelopment Authority, Carlisle
• Department of Building and Housing Development, Harrisburg
• Developmental and Disability Services of Lebanon Valley, Lebanon
• Exide Corporation, Lampeter
• Gannett Fleming, Incorporated, Harrisburg
• G.S. Electric, Carlisle
• Harris Savings Bank, Harrisburg
• New Cumberland Army Depot, New Cumberland
• Pennsy Supply Inc., Harrisburg
• Milton Hershey School, Hershey
• The PAI Corporation, Lancaster
• Pennsylvania Blue Shield (Highmark), Camp Hill
• Carlisle Syntec, Carlisle
• Thompson Consumer Electronics, Incorporated, Lancaster
• USWA Bethlehem Career Development Program, Steelton
• Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Lebanon

HACC's Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies offers workshops, seminars, and courses designed for entrepreneurs and individuals wanting to improve their business development skills.

In partnership with I/Tech, HACC offers information technology students a full range of specialized and individualized certification programs, including the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) credential, A+ Certified computer Technician Program, and Microsoft Office User Specialist.

HACC is also continuing its alliance with the Susquehanna Employment Corporation (SEC), offering job training to dislocated AMP employees. Through an initiative led by Governor Ridge, former AMP employees can study at HACC and attain their Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer designation. Companies and individuals interested in workforce training may contact Mark Borger at Harrisburg Area Community College by calling 780-2412 or email at mcborger@hacc.edu.