Published in Lancaster Online, by Karen Shuey

February 26, 2014

The Lancaster County community has a one-stop shop that will help lift the Latino workforce out of poverty, officials told Gov. Tom Corbett during his tour Wednesday of Tec Centro.

Whether Spanish speakers need English lessons, have limited job-skills training or aren’t sure where to look for employment opportunities, they said the newly opened city facility offers a road map to economic success.

But they need help.

Carlos Graupera, executive director of the Spanish American Civic Association, asked the governor for his support at cutting through the red tape.

“This center represents a promise to the the community — that we can help make their dreams come true. This is worth the investment,” he told Corbett.

Graupera said the facility was conceived more than five years ago when SACA leaders determined that the workforce training needs of the Spanish-speaking community were not being adequately addressed.

Corbett, a Republican seeking a second term, got a firsthand look at what the officials at Tec Centro are trying to do and gave the project his seal of approval.

“This is a great example of local leaders, business and industry coming together to fill a need that exists in our communities,” the governor said.

Getting more money to keep the facility afloat, however, may be a hard sell right now.

“There are certain state programs we can make sure are aware of what’s going on here but there is only so much we can do to help,” Corbett added.

Lending his name to the list of supporters was Sen. Lloyd Smucker, who spoke to Corbett about the role Tec Centro will play in the community.

The $3.5 million training center, at 102 Chester St., expects to serve about 300 students annually when the school is fully operational. About 120 people already are registered for programs.

Classes will prepare students for careers in the health-care field, culinary arts and in the plumbing, electrical and carpentry trades. The training, Smucker said, will help businesses throughout the area and the families of the workers.

Corbett met five of those workers during a stop by one of the classrooms.

City residents Milagros Melendez, Fruto Salgado, Elix Castro, Yashira Vazquez and Mariluz Sierra shared their stories for a better future with the governor during a short meet and greet.

Salgado spoke about how he is working on becoming a chef through the program and someday hopes to put those skills on display in his own restaurant.

“My dream would be to open my own place and cook all the Puerto Rican food that I grew up with,” he said.

Vazquez talked about her struggle to fit the certified nursing training into her busy work schedule so that she can improve her career options.

“It’s a lot of work but I know I can do something better with my life,” she said.

Graupera said Salgado and Vazquez represent what he comes across often.

“We see people unemployed or underemployed without a clear path. The system is so fractured between education and job training that we wanted to bring everything under one roof,” he told Corbett.

To make the facility a reality, SACA officials cobbled together grants from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the state Redevelopment Capital Assistance program, the Lancaster County Community Foundation and the Steinman Foundation to finance the project. Tax credits through the U.S. Treasury Department’s New Market program completed the funding.

But more cash is needed now.

Graupera said he also is seeking assistance from partners to fund the operational cost of Tec Centro of about $900,000 annually.

“We hope to be self-sustaining in two years, but it won’t happen overnight,” he said. “We need a commitment from the state that they see the value of what we are trying to do.”

(Karen Shuey, "Corbett tours new workforce training center here," 2/26/14)