HAWLEY, PA — Rep. Joe Adams (R-Pike/Wayne), House Republican Policy Committee chairman Joshua D. Kail (R-Beaver/Washington) and members of the policy committee held a hearing on September 19 to examine what technical and vocational education services are available, the need for a centralized career and technical center (CTC) and how to develop existing services into more robust programs.

Mary Beth Wood, executive director for the Wayne Economic Development Corporation, discussed how investing in people pursuing technical and vocational education is critical to expanding the area’s economic development.

“Job creation is a measure of success in economic development—jobs are filled by people. In Wayne County, we take the approach that workforce development is economic development,” she said. “Creating a CTC and consolidating programs would create additional opportunities for students. The goal will be to ensure every student, regardless of their district, can call the Wayne/Pike CTC their home.”