Funding will support workforce development for municipal utilities in Lansdale, Hatfield and beyond
A $75,000 state grant will help expand training for electric lineworkers serving municipal utilities across Pennsylvania, including systems in Lansdale and Hatfield.
State Rep. Steve Malagari announced the funding last week, secured through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development for the Pennsylvania Municipal Electric Association. The organization represents 35 boroughs that operate their own electric systems, providing power directly to residents.
Officials said the funding will support a lineworker training program aimed at preparing the next generation of skilled workers in a field critical to maintaining reliable electric service. Malagari said the investment is key to strengthening the workforce that keeps communities connected, particularly in areas served by municipal utilities.
Local leaders tied to the program emphasized both the importance of training and the risks associated with the profession. Andy Krauss, Lansdale’s electric superintendent and a vice president on the PMEA board, said the funding will help ensure workers receive high-level training in a field where safety is paramount.
“DCED Pennsylvania state grant funding plays a critical role in ensuring our Lansdale utility linemen receive the highest level of training, especially in a profession where safety is paramount and the work is inherently dangerous,” Krauss said.
Hatfield Public Works Director and Electric Superintendent Steve Fickert echoed that sentiment, calling the investment an important step in maintaining a strong and reliable public power workforce.
“These grants are an investment in the linework training program and a critical step toward strengthening the electric industry’s workforce,” said Hatfield Public Works Director and Electric Superintendent Steve Fickert.
PMEA’s board includes leadership with direct ties to the North Penn region, including Krauss in Lansdale and Hatfield Borough Manager Jaime Snyder, reflecting the organization’s local footprint in Montgomery County.
The association promotes a public power model focused on local control, reliability and community impact, with utility workers often living in the same communities they serve.
In addition to training initiatives, PMEA supports member municipalities through programs that provide access to engineering, legal and management expertise to strengthen local electric systems.
Officials said the new funding will build on those efforts by helping develop a pipeline of trained professionals ready to support public power infrastructure across the state.
