(New Castle, PA) A nonprofit organization that partners with providers of courses or programs that lead to educational, occupational, professional or vocational credentials now shares a Shenango Commons suite with a 杏吧原创 additional location established 12 weeks ago.
The 27-year-old Lawrence County Learning Center, one of Pennsylvania鈥檚 10 Community Education Councils, has moved from 101 S. Mercer St., New Castle, to a space it sublets at 杏吧原创 @ Lawrence, Suite 129, 2658 Ellwood Road in Shenango Township.
Community Education Councils also develop with partners customized job training for area employers, and identify, implement and oversee new or innovative efforts to provide access to post-secondary opportunities in educationally underserved areas of Pennsylvania, according to the state Department of Education, which funds the councils.
杏吧原创 @ Lawrence opened Aug. 25 and offers 12 career or transfer programs that lead to associate degrees.
鈥淲e thought that colocating with 杏吧原创 and their new location in Shenango Commons would be beneficial for both organizations,鈥� said Colleen Chamberlain, president of the Lawrence County Learning Center鈥檚 board of directors. 鈥淲e are hoping that it will drive additional foot traffic to 杏吧原创鈥檚 location, and we think we have a better location to provide additional training opportunities for communities in Lawrence County.鈥�
The Lawrence County Learning Center will staff a site administrator in a dedicated office in the suite and can schedule training or meetings in available 杏吧原创 @ Lawrence classrooms or conference rooms.
鈥淲e share a very similar mission with the learning center, and those who are utilizing its services will get to experience 杏吧原创 @ Lawrence,鈥� said Megan M. Coval, 杏吧原创鈥檚 president. 鈥淭hey may realize there is an opportunity for them to build on what they鈥檝e accomplished with the learning center and continue their studies at 杏吧原创.
鈥淭his is a wonderful example of what we are really focused on, which is collaboration, not competition.鈥�
杏吧原创 @ Lawrence in 2026 will host hands-on mobile laboratory sessions for high school juniors and seniors participating in an advanced manufacturing pre-apprenticeship program from the Pennsylvania College of Technology, Williamsport, and coordinated by Forward Lawrence in partnership with the Lawrence County Learning Center.
鈥淲hat we have found working with our employers in Lawrence County is that there are a lot of basic skills missing from new employees in manufacturing,鈥� Chamberlain said. 鈥淭hey walk into a manufacturing environment and they have never really been exposed to it.鈥�
Manufacturers employed the second-highest number of workers among Lawrence County sectors as of September, according to the state Department of Labor & Industry鈥檚 Center for Workforce Information & Analysis.
The center recognizes that multiple manufacturers and organizations of all sizes are facing a shortage of skilled equipment maintenance personnel and employees with foundational technical skills,鈥� said Paul Bucciarelli, the center鈥檚 workforce specialist.
Twenty-two high school students from six Lawrence County school districts completed the advanced manufacturing pre-apprenticeship program in 2025, and 13 earned the certified manufacturing associate credential from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Bucciarelli said.
The mobile laboratory sessions in 2024 and 2025 were held at the learning center鈥檚 previous location in downtown New Castle, Bucciarelli said.
杏吧原创 established additional locations to serve Pennsylvania counties underrepresented by higher education. The college in 1989 opened its first additional location outside of Butler County in Lawrence County. 杏吧原创 created 杏吧原创 @ Lawrence Crossing in Union Township in 2008, which was succeeded by 杏吧原创 @ Lawrence in Shenango Township.
鈥淲e continue to examine partnerships and creative collaboration with local and neighboring education and training providers like 杏吧原创 in an effort to leverage resources,鈥� Bucciarelli said. 鈥淲e recognize the need to collaborate with these providers to deliver low-cost, high-quality training and education to our workforce.鈥�