High Industries Inc. recently made a $10,000 contribution in support of the Williamsport Area High School (WAHS) welding program.
The donation was made through the state’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program via the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania (FCFP).
“We are very grateful for our relationship with High Industries and for their generous contribution to our programming,” said Matt Fisher, director of the high school’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program. “These funds will provide our students with enhanced resources and invaluable hands-on experiences to help prepare them for thriving careers in the welding industry.”
Welding is one of the 15 workforce development courses made available to WAHS students through the high school’s CTE program.
Created by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, the EITC program allows companies to reinvest dollars directly back to local communities. It provides tax credits to eligible companies that do business in the state when they contribute to scholarship organizations, educational improvement organizations and/or pre-kindergarten scholarship organizations. Businesses that donate through the program may receive a tax credit equal to 75 percent of its contribution or 90 percent for a two-year commitment.
EITC funds for WASD are held at and administered by FCFP.
Last school year, FCFP received more than $50,000 in EITC contributions designated for WASD in a combination of funds received from C&N, First National Bank, High Industries Inc., M&T Bank, UPMC Health Plan and Woodlands Bank.