Congressman tours CCTI, area businesses

The congressman of the newly formed 9th District is eager to learn about the people he serves and bring their concerns to the table in Washington.

On Monday, U.S. Congressman Dan Meuser toured Carbon Career & Technical Institute in Jim Thorpe, KME and Hydra-Tech Pumps in Nesquehoning, and Ampal Inc. in Palmerton to hear what is happening in the county.

During the tour of CCTI, Meuser saw how the school is preparing students for careers in various trades.

He visited the cosmetology, auto mechanics, carpentry and culinary departments and saw projects that students are working on to prepare for future careers.

“It’s absolutely inspiring,” Meuser said. “You have great instructors. You have young people who are excited about their track and it gives them goals and skills that are needed within Carbon County and the surrounding areas. It is fantastic.”

“This is a challenging and important time for career and technical education here in Carbon County,” David Reinbold, administrative director at CCTI, said. “There is a shortage of skilled labor in the county. As local businesses expand and new businesses take root, we are tasked with training workers to meet the labor demand. Maintaining local funding for career and technical education is an investment in our county’s future.”

Auto service and technology instructor Hal Resh told Meuser about a project his students will be working on — a broken down scooter that they will repair and then donate to a veteran.

Meuser, who has contacts with Pride Mobility, said that maybe he would be able to get a second scooter for the school to work on.

Jeff Hazelton, carpentry instructor, showed off a full-scale house his students are currently building at the school.

Meuser, who sits on the education and labor committee in Congress, said that visits like these to both educational institutes and businesses will help him bring real experience to the committee.

“A lot of the work is numbers based and theories based,” he said of the committee. “When you see something like this, this is how we apply what it is we are working on so we can help and enable as opposed to doing things that aren’t in line with reality.”

Cooperative education students also spoke with Meuser about how CCTI was helping them not only get an education, but also a pay check.

Eligible seniors have the opportunity to take a half day at CCTI and go to a job the other half day as a way to use the skills they are learning, while also beginning a career.

Stephanie Barto, cooperative education instructor, said that 22 of 24 seniors who went through the program last year were offered full-time jobs after graduation.

Kathy Henderson, director of economic development at the Carbon Chamber and Economic Development Corp., said that they are hoping to build a partnership with the congressman.