US Sen. Dave McCormick tours Tec Centro in Lancaster, talks workforce development programs

• By Jaxon White/LNP | LancasterOnline

U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick toured Tec Centro’s newest facility on Laurel Street on Friday morning, as the group marks 10 years of vocational training in Lancaster city.

Flanked by Tec Centro executives, the first-term Republican spoke with instructors and students about what opportunities were available to enrollees after they complete the organization’s bilingual workforce programs, including welding, plumbing and electrical work.

One of those instructors was 2018 McCaskey grad Joe Battle, who explained to McCormick and U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker how his welders’ first projects this semester were to design and construct their own metal worktables.

McCormick largely asked instructors about how the private industry was supporting their work and what Congress could do to back Tec Centro.

Carlos Graupera, chief executive of Tec Centro Workforce Network, urged McCormick to support Smucker’s bill looking to create a tax credit for individuals and businesses who donate to workforce development and apprenticeship training organizations.

That legislation was not brought to a floor vote last year after clearing the House Ways and Means Committee, which Smucker sits on. Smucker’s spokesman said the representative plans to reintroduce the bill this year.

“I’ll talk to him about it, because then, obviously, we need a sponsor in the Senate, so that would be maybe something we could work on together,” McCormick said.

Joining the tour were Lancaster County Commissioner Ray D’Agostino and former state Sen. Ryan Aument, who resigned from the General Assembly in December to work as McCormick’s state office director. State representative Izzy Smith-Wade also stopped in for the beginning of the tour.