BY STACI WILSON

The Marcellus Shale is making an impact on not just the local economy, but also on the state’s that has not gone unnoticed by the governor.

On Friday, April 17, Stephanie Larkin, Director of the PA Workforce Investment Board in Harrisburg, announced a $150,000 technical grant for Lackawanna College’s School of Petroleum and Natural Gas in New Milford Twp.

“(Lackawanna College School of PNG) partnership with industry, outcome and placement rate has not gone unnoticed,” Larkin said as she presented the award on behalf of Gov. Tom Wolf.

The school will use that grant on a natural gas drilling simulator – similar to a flight simulator used for pilots – for Lackawanna College School of PNG students to use for training. It will be the only simulator of its kind outside of Texas.

Jeannine Barrett, manager of the Petroleum and Natural Gas degree programs, said instructors will be able to input data. “Students will be able to make adjustments and see the consequences of those adjustments,” Barrett said. “Students can witness the simulated problems in the lab.” That, she said, translates into more experienced, efficient and prepared industry workers.

Cabot Oil & Gas spokesman George Stark said the addition of the simulator is extremely important to the drilling companies in the area.

“It will allow our employees to come right here to Lackawanna College for their certification,” he said. Cabot had sent those needing the certification to Texas.
Stark said that not only would Cabot benefit from the availability of the simulator, all the other operators in the region could also send workers to Lackawanna College for recertification.

In Larkin’s presentation, she noted that the state’s Department of Labor & Industry data showed over 83 percent growth in six core industries involved in natural gas development as well as growth in the industry’s ancillary services.

Over the same period of time, the state saw just 3.3 percent growth, Larkin said.

Lackawanna College President Mark Volk thanked the governor’s office for the grant.

Volk said that in just five years, the School of PNG has grown from one program to four degree programs with employment that offers more than sustaining wages. “These truly are jobs that are life changing,” he said.

“The equipment we have is very expensive,” Volk said. “No school can afford the type of equipment we have without industry partnership.”

The Cabot $2.5 million endowment, announced last year, brought industry partnerships from other companies, Volk said. “Not just in equipment, but in curriculum review. It’s a model that could be used nationwide, across many industries.”

Stark also presented the college with a $250,000 on Friday, part of the company’s ongoing commitment to the program.