Grant facilitates new Robotics and Automated Technology program

Eastern Center for Arts and Technology (EASTERN) is completing its $200,000 two-year Manufacturing PA Training to Career Implementation grant from the Department of Community and Economic Development. This grant helped to launch EASTERN’s Robotics and Automated Technology program. These funds helped to cover the teacher’s salary, three pieces of equipment, targeted marketing to the Eastern Montgomery County community, curriculum development, partnership development and reimbursement to employers to support student-paid internships at local companies. With this funding, along with other state grants and local funding EASTERN was able to renovate the classroom space, build a state-of-the-art program, cultivate partnerships with local companies, and launch the program to juniors and seniors from Eastern Montgomery County starting the 2020-21 school year.

“EASTERN would like to thank the local companies that have supported Robotics and Automated Technology students by hiring them for paid internships: SP Industries, Lynn Electronics, and TJM Electronics,” said Dr. Cathleen Plesnarski, EASTERN’s executive director. “We would also like to thank our Robotics and Automated Technology Occupational Advisory Committee (OAC) members who have volunteered their time to assist us in ensuring that we offer state-of-the-art career and technical education, and all of our industry partners who helped to advise our programs, hosted worksite visits, and hired our students for internships.”

EASTERN’s industry partners include Chant Engineering Company, Demco Automation, FKB Studio, Fromm Electronics, Lynn Electronics, Mann Corp, Pac Pro Inc., SP Industries, SPS Technologies, Swagelok Penn, ThermOmega Tech/TJM Electronics, Timberland Inc., USDA and Xynatech.