HARRISBURG, PENN. — The state of Pennsylvania is granting the Jefferson County Dubois Area Vocational Technical School (Jeff Tech) $1 million for a meat training program.

The funding comes from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, which funded three projects in Pennsylvania, totaling nearly $5 million.

Located in Winslow Township, Penn., Jeff Tech will use the grant to create a new facility to house the Farm-to-Refrigerator training program. The program is open to both secondary and adult students seeking training in meat processing.

“The long-term vision of this project is for people in our community to grow, butcher, sell, purchase and eat regionally sourced meat products and grow the economy of our entire region while providing long term, family sustaining career opportunities for adult and secondary students in our area,” said Barry Fillman, director at Jeff Tech.

Fillman expressed his thanks to Representative Brian Smith and Senator Cris Dush for their support of the college through this grant.

“This contribution will pair with the federal appropriations received due to the support of US Congressman Glen Thompson totaling $1,125,000 to allow us to begin construction,” Fillman said.

“The Jeff Tech project will help reduce an identified bottleneck in the local meat supply chain as well as provide area secondary and adult students with new, marketable skills in a resilient industry within the region,” Senator Dush said. “Increasing employment opportunities and helping address challenges faced by our region’s meat processing industry will benefit our local communities as well as enhance the economic sustainability of family farms in the region.”