Penn Community Bank, the largest independent mutual bank in eastern Pennsylvania, has contributed $25,000 to Montgomery County Community College (MCCC). The generous donation funds its Workforce Development Division’s new MontcoWorks Apprenticeship Program (MAP).

MAP is an earn-while-you-learn program that offers students the opportunity to gain in-demand workforce skills and college credits at no cost. Apprentice-students train alongside experienced professionals, receive mentorship and guidance, while earning a steady paycheck from a partnering employer.

Upon completion of the program, apprentices receive an industry-recognized credential and will have acquired up to 36 college credits.

“MAP will ensure future generations have sustainable career pathways, which provide a better life for themselves and their families. Similarly, employers gain the skilled workforce needed to stay competitive in the global market,” said MCCC President Dr. Victoria L. Bastecki-Perez.

“The college greatly appreciates Penn Community Bank’s support of our students and this innovative earn-to-learn program.”

“Connecting employers and jobseekers just makes sense. As a corporate citizen and vital part of the community, it’s our job to support and expand job training efforts in the region to ensure a strong local economy for generations to come,” said Bernard Tynes, Penn Community Bank Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing & Impact Officer.

This donation will help fund the associated costs to train mentors for industry partners, who will work directly with apprentice. At the end of the program, apprentices will go on to earn family-sustaining jobs, while also filling a workforce shortage among area employers.

MAP will begin with the 24-month industrial maintenance mechanic apprenticeship. It is an employment and training pathway supporting careers in several high-priority occupations in Montgomery County and beyond.

“The MontcoWorks Apprenticeship Program is a pilot program to engage our employers in the Montgomery County region who are facing significant workforce shortages,” said Kyle Longacre, Dean of Workforce and Economic Development.

“We are working to recruit really good apprenticeship candidates for our program and help them prepare to interview with our employer partners.”

Apprenticeship programs change the arrangement between education and industry in that it brings the employment of a student to the beginning of the journey, as compared to the middle or the end of the education journey, he said.

Companies make a two-year commitment to hire and train inexperienced, students. The student also signs a two-year contract to participate in a dual-curriculum training process with on-the-job training competencies and related technical instruction.

As the MAP program continues to grow, MCCC plans to partner with career and technical centers, area nonprofit organizations and school districts to share these opportunities with more students. Existing employees of companies also may enter the program for additional training and college credits.

MAP is designed to be replicated across other industries outside of maintenance mechanics and manufacturing as well. .

For more information about the Montcoworks Apprenticeship Program, visit mc3.edu

To find out how to support the program, contact the Montgomery County Community College Foundation at mc3.edu/foundation.

About Montgomery County Community College

For more than a half century, Montgomery County Community College has grown with the community to meet the evolving educational needs of Montgomery County. The college’s comprehensive curriculum includes more than 100 associate degree and certificate programs, as well as customized workforce training and certifications. Students enjoy the flexibility of learning at the college’s thriving campuses in Blue Bell and Pottstown, at the Culinary Arts Institute in Lansdale, and online.

As an Achieving the Dream Leader College of Distinction, the institution is positioned at the vanguard of national efforts to remove barriers to access, improve learning outcomes, and increase completion for all students. The college also is recognized regionally and nationally for its sustainability leadership, work with military veterans, community service and service-learning opportunities, and use of classroom technology. For six years, MCCC has been named one of the Most Promising Places to Work in Community Colleges in the nation by the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development for its commitment to diversity through inclusive learning and work environments, student and staff recruitment and retention practices, and meaningful community service and engagement opportunities.

For more information, visit the college website.

About Penn Community Bank

Penn Community Bank holds more than $2.6 billion in assets, employs more than 300 people, and offers banking and lending services at 20+ bank branches and three administrative centers throughout Bucks and Montgomery counties, Pennsylvania. As an independent, mutual financial institution, Penn Community Bank is not publicly traded and operates with its long-term mission in mind: to help businesses grow and prosper, to provide financial resources to individuals and families throughout their lifetimes, to strengthen the local economy, and to partner with local organizations to act as a catalyst for positive growth in every market it serves.