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Penn State Berks receives $470,000 training grant By Lisa R. Weidman
	The Penn State Berks campus of the Berks–Lehigh Valley College and the Food Manufacturer’s Training Consortium have received a $470,000 Customized Job Training grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. The grant will allow companies to meet their most pressing employee development needs by providing training for new workers and upgrading training for existing employees. Training will focus on food safety and sanitation, including Good Manufacturing Processes and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points systems. The two-year grant started last July and runs through June 2000. “The food industry is a big part of this region’s economy, and a trained workforce is critical for any company to remain competitive today,” Walt Fullam, director of continuing education at Penn State Berks, said. “This grant will allow Penn State to help these companies achieve that goal.” The Food Manufacturer’s Training Consortium is an industry-driven organization which operates in collaboration with Penn State. Eighteen food processing companies pay a membership fee that is matched by the Ben Franklin Partnership; MANTEC, the Industrial Resource Center of South Central Pennsylvania; and in-kind support from Penn State. The following Food Manufacturer’s Training Consortium members are participating in the Customized Job Training grant: Ask Foods Inc., Ateeco Inc., Bachman Co., Classic Caramel, Covenco Inc., Empire Kosher Poultry, Ingretec Ltd., Kutztown Bologna Co., R.M. Palmer Co., Country Fresh Mushroom Co., John Copes Food Products Inc., Tyson Foods Inc. and Stroehmann Bakeries L.C.