PEDA - Pennsylvania Economic Development Association

IMPACT Across the State

09/29/2016 8:11 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Original publication: Coria Bowen/Staff Writer The Herald-Mail

Next year, students at the new Welding Training Center in Chambersburg, Pa., will be able to receive welding training that will provide them with global certifications.

“Every graduate can get a job as a welder any place in the world, even in Europe or the United States of America,” Stefan Takac, president and chief executive officer of Phenomenal Industries Inc., said at Tuesday’s groundbreaking ceremony for the center.

The center is set to be completed March 1.

Phenomenal Industries, Inc., a welding services company based in Europe, is the training center’s operating company in partnership with the Franklin County Area Development Corp., the training center’s developer.

The Welding Training Center at 1669 Opportunity Ave. will be 10,868 square feet with 20 individual welding stations and state-of-the-art classroom and training space. It has a total capital investment of $1.75 million financed by F&M Trust.

Lehman Construction Services Inc. will be the general contractor for the project.

“We think it’s going to address a community need,” said L. Michael Ross, president of the Franklin County Area Development Corp. Welding is “a very family-sustainable career.”

During his speech at the groundbreaking ceremony, Takac said the project began two years ago, when he had a meeting with Ross and with David Briel, executive director of the Office of International Business Development, about the possibility of opening the center in Chambersburg.

“Since then, we learned that Franklin County is a great place to live, work and play,” Takac said. “We are very confidant that this county will soon become a phenomenal county to get trained as a welder for global application.”

Depending on the specific welding process, training will generally last between four to six weeks, after which graduates are hired by Phenomenal and contracted to the company’s clients within the U.S. and in Europe, Takac said.

Ross said his expectation is that the center will provide business opportunities for manufacturers in Franklin County and across the region.

Coria Bowen/Staff Writer The Herald-Mail

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