Lackawanna College to Open New Trade Centers in Chambersburg and Bethlehem This Summer
Lackawanna College is opening two new trade centers this summer, bringing skilled trades education to Franklin County and the Lehigh Valley. The new Chambersburg and Bethlehem Centers will offer associate degree programs in some of the most in-demand trades in the country, giving students in both regions a direct path to a rewarding career close to home.
Both centers will celebrate their openings with ribbon cutting ceremonies and open houses, and the community is invited to attend.
Chambersburg Center
The Chambersburg Center is located at 1669 Opportunity Ave in the Cumberland Valley Business Park near the Letterkenny Army Depot. The facility occupies approximately 11,000 square feet of classroom, laboratory, and office space, with a 5,000-square-foot Weld Shop at its center housing 30 individual welding booths.
The center offers an associate degree in Welding and Fabrication Technology, one of the most in-demand trades in the country. The American Welding Society projects that 320,500 new welding professionals will be needed by 2029, and with more than 157,000 current professionals approaching retirement age, the need for qualified welders is only growing.
Students train in oxy-acetylene, stick, TIG, MIG, and core wire processes and gain hands-on experience in blueprint reading, fabrication, and plate and pipe welding. They also have the opportunity to earn industry-recognized certifications including the AWS D1.1 (3G and 4G) plate welding certification and API 1104 and ASME IX pipe welding certifications.
Chambersburg Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Thursday, June 4, 2026 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
1669 Opportunity Ave, Chambersburg, PA
Open to the public.
Chambersburg Open House
Saturday, June 6, 2026 – 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
1669 Opportunity Ave, Chambersburg, PA
Register for the Chambersburg Open House Here
Bethlehem Center
The Bethlehem Center, located at 3184 Airport Road directly across from Lehigh Valley International Airport, is Lackawanna College’s largest trade facility. The center spans 42,000 square feet with 15 instructional rooms, a 4,200-square-foot Welding Shop with 28 welding booths, and approximately 6,500 square feet of Carpentry lab space including a fully equipped Cabinet Shop.
The Bethlehem Center offers three associate degree programs, all of which appear on the 2025 High Priority Occupations List for the PA Workforce Development Boards.
- Carpentry and Construction Technology, offered exclusively at the Bethlehem Center, prepares students for careers in residential and commercial construction. Students gain hands-on experience in blueprint reading, framing, finishing, and cabinet design and construction. Graduates can earn between $38,760 and $98,370 annually across the U.S.
- Electrical Technology prepares students for careers in residential, commercial, and industrial electrical work, with training in wiring, circuit design, and troubleshooting. Graduates can earn between $39,430 and $106,030 annually across the U.S.
- Welding and Fabrication Technology, also offered at our Bethlehem Center, prepares students for careers in welding, manufacturing, and pipeline industries. Graduates can earn between $38,130 and $75,850 annually across the U.S.
Classes begin August 31, 2026 at both centers, and no prior experience is required to get started.
Bethlehem Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Tuesday, June 9, 2026 – 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
3184 Airport Road, Bethlehem, PA
Open to the public.
Bethlehem Open House
Saturday, June 13, 2026 – 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
3184 Airport Road, Bethlehem, PA