David Hockenberry, an instructor for machine technology at Vo-Tech, showed materials that students on Wednesday morning, March 12, 2025
Invest in Butler's future
Butler TWP – Pennsylvania American Water wants to strengthen the local workforce in the middle of potential shortage of workers.
For this reason, the company has decided to award several subsidies of $ 25,000 in educational institutions, including Butler County's professional technical school.
Justin Ladner, President of Pennsylvania American Water, toured on Wednesday, March 12, through the Vo-Tech facilities to see how the Vo-Tech worked on preparing its students for the workforce.
The grants come from the Keep Communities of the American Water Charitible Foundation, which flowed the program for the flow of scholarships.
Ladner said on Wednesday that the three pillars of the foundation are water, people and communities.
“One of our most important pillars is the community. And they think of the community workforce, the willingness is a central focus, ”said Ladner. “This is a typical example of investing in the communities that we serve.”
The foundation's $ 25,000 willingness grant was used for the Vo-Tech to obtain several new 3D printer and an optical comparator.
“This financing will improve our training and educational efforts and equip our students with essential skills for their future. We look forward to the positive effects that this grant will have on our community and students, ”said Regina Hiler, Executive Director of Vo-Tech, in a press release from Pennsylvania American Water.
Regina Hiler, Executive Director of the Vo-Tech, showed Justin Ladner, President of Pennsylvania American Water, in various laboratory rooms in the vo-tech building such as welding, repairs of heavy devices and carpenters. Zach Zimmerman/Butler Eagle
Pennsylvania American Water said that the water industry is specifically confronted with a lack of workers, together with many operators of the water and sewage treatment plants and related experts who approach retirement age. The water supply company said that the US office for work statistics has to replace around 10,300 openings for these positions per year in order to replace employees who will retire shortly or change professions.
The water supplier also said that the lack of employees represents significant challenges, especially for small and rural communities that rely on qualified operators in order to maintain essential public services. This not only includes the water treatment industry, but also others.
“We know that other companies in the communities we serve have similar challenges in the coming years. For this reason, the American Water Charitible Foundation and Pennsylvania American Water are happy to be the financial support of schools that clarify our next generation of managers, ”says the press release.
During the tour, Hiler Ladner and other representatives of Pennsylvania American Water showed the 3D printing laboratory from Vo-Tech as well as his carpentry, HLK, computer network, repair of heavy-sized devices and welding laboratories to emphasize the skills.
“The importance of developing a qualified workforce cannot be understood,” said Ladner in the company's press release.
David Hockenberry, an instructor for machine technology at Vo-Tech, said during the tour that the scholarship was huge for his students. He emphasized the need for more machine operators who can work with metal and other materials in the workforce. He said
He said that this was particularly important for Butler, where two of the largest employer-Oberg Industries and Penn United Technologies-throughout are in contact with Vo-Tech.
“It will be huge for us. We basically have one of the most beautiful pressure laboratories, ”said Hockenberry. “The things they can print make the students difficult to draw. When you graduate and go to industry, do things more like circles and squares, so you are really sent – big deal to grant money to expand the opportunities
Hockenberry was proud to say that the Vo-Tech now has the most beautiful 3D printing laboratory in Butler County, with the exception of maybe Butler County Community College.