Heat Treating Leader Solar Atmospheres Invests in People and Growth
Solar Atmospheres of Western Pennsylvania, based in Hermitage, has grown into one of the nation’s premier providers of vacuum heat treating. With furnaces capable of handling some of the largest parts in the country and a workforce dedicated to consistency and care, the company reflects the strengths and challenges that many members of the Lawrence […]
LMMC Newsletter – June 2025
Read about updates to youth outreach events and programs, new member spotlight. Newsletter
Advanced Manufacturing Pre-Apprenticeship Program Celebrates Student Success
Nearly 25 high school students from Lawrence County were celebrated on June 20 for completing Penn College of Technology’s (PCT) Advanced Manufacturing Pre-Apprenticeship Program, a milestone that highlights the power of workforce development in Western Pennsylvania. A No-Cost Opportunity to Explore High-Demand Careers Funded through a U.S. Department of Labor grant, the program was offered […]
Welding Internship Opens Doors to Manufacturing Careers
A Lawrence County Career and Technical Center student is getting hands-on experience, and a head start on his career, through a welding internship at Flowline in New Castle From Garage Sparks to Full-Time Shop Experience Hayden Daviduk’s interest in welding began years ago, watching his dad work on projects in the family garage. That early […]
Membership and Community Meeting Draws Nearly 100 Attendees
The Lawrence Mercer Manufacturers Coalition (LMMC) kicked off its inaugural membership meeting with a packed room, a shared mission and a clear message: collaboration is essential to building a stronger manufacturing workforce in Lawrence and Mercer counties. Regional Leaders Gather to Strengthen Manufacturing Careers Held at the Lawrence County Career and Technical Center, the event […]
Medart Strengthens Local Manufacturing Through People-First Strategy
Dantae Phillips started at Medart cleaning floors. Today, he runs a division. That kind of upward mobility is no accident. It’s part of a company-wide approach to workforce development that recently led Medart to join the Lawrence Mercer Manufacturers Coalition, a growing partnership of manufacturers working together to address shared challenges and build talent pipelines […]
Rooted in Family and Focused on the Future: T. Bruce Sales Joins LMMC
T. Bruce Sales, a West Middlesex-based fabricator, has recently joined the Lawrence Mercer Manufacturers Coalition (LMMC), strengthening the group’s efforts to build a more prepared and connected manufacturing workforce in the region. Established in 1946, the second-generation, family-owned company specializes in custom steel fabrication, machining, blasting, painting, reverse engineering and welding inspections. With more than […]
Local Collaboration Showcases ‘What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?’ to Area Youth
An auditorium full of students, teachers, manufacturers and community leaders came together April 9 at Penn State Shenango to celebrate manufacturing – and the next generation who may shape its future. The West Central District “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” student video contest, coordinated locally with help from the Lawrence Mercer Manufacturers Coalition (LMMC), is […]
LMMC Prepares for First Membership and Community Meeting on April 29
The Lawrence Mercer Manufacturers Coalition (LMMC) will host its inaugural semi-annual membership and community meeting on April 29, bringing together manufacturers, educators and community leaders from across the region to align around workforce development priorities. There is no cost to attend. The event will spotlight strategies aimed at addressing the persistent workforce challenges facing local […]
LMMC Member Partners with Slippery Rock Students on Real-World Engineering Challenge
Slippery Rock High School’s 3D Modeling class is getting a firsthand look at how modern manufacturing blends technology, engineering and problem-solving. Through the Manufacturing Innovation Challenge Program, facilitated by Catalyst Connection, students are working with Hall Industries to develop a more efficient process for machining a particularly complex copper part. The exercise allows the students […]
