The 2019 Outstanding Group Program is the Keystone Community Education Council and their Plastics Process Technician Apprenticeship Program. The Plastics Process Technician Apprenticeship Program is a collaboration of twelve plastics manufacturers in NW PA who pioneered the unique program.

The idea took fruition through the Next Generation Plastics Industry Partnership when partners determined what was wanted and needed in a plastics apprenticeship program. From those needs, a partnership was struck between the American Injection Molding Institute (AIM) and Clarion University as AIM provides the technical training and Clarion University provides the general education components.

Employers were satisfied with the knowledge that their employees received through the first cohort of the program and recommended the program to their industry peers.

This article was published in the Venango Chamber’s December 2019 VenangoWorks! Newsletter.