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‘Robotic WorX’ at Millersville U. receives state grant

Engineering professor and Robotics WorX co-founder John Haughery, right, gives DCED officials a tour of the university’s Solutions Lab on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. DCED’s Gwen Ross is at center-right in red. (Source: PA.gov)

A public-private partnership to enhance local workforce readiness in advanced manufacturing is getting a boost from state government.

Gwen Ross

Gwen Ross, the director of workforce development initiatives at the Department of Community & Economic Development, visited Millersville University Tuesday morning to announce a $200,000 grant for the university’s Robotic WorX program.

Launched last year, Robotic WorX provides internships for high school and college students interested in robotics engineering. It is a partnership between the company Precision Cobotics, based in Manheim Township, and Millersville’s Applied Engineering, Safety & Technology department.

The Robotic WorX program also includes job shadowing and field trips to local companies to see emerging robotic and automation technology.

The state grant, awarded through DCED’s “Manufacturing PA Training-to-Career” program, will support paid internships and the cost of training and supplies. It will help to insure “that financial barriers do not prevent talented students from participating,” DCED said in a statement.

In 2023-24, Robotic WorX reached just under 600 participants, the Lancaster Chamber reported. Officials say they expect the program to reach more than 2,000 people over the next two years through increased participation, peer mentoring and public outreach.

John Haugherty coordinates Millersville’s Automation & Robotics Engineering Technology program and is Robotic WorX’ co-founder. It provides multiple pathways for students to enter the industry, he said, “from first-time experience with robotics, to getting your hands on a collaborative robot, to spending a semester long internship developing state-of-the-art automation technologies for real manufacturing problems.”

A $75,000 grant from the Lancaster STEM Alliance helped to underwrite Robotic WorX’ launch in 2023. Besides local school district, partner agencies include the Lancaster County Workforce Development Board, CareerLink and Career Ready Lancaster.