NFPA's Newest Fast Track Hub - Inaugural Meeting
Northampton Community College | Bethlehem, PA
October 7, 2025 | 10:30 AM ET
In a strategic move to address workforce gaps and strengthen the fluid power industry, NFPA is collaborating with Northampton Community College in suburban Philadelphia to launch a sixth Fast Track to Fluid Power Hub. This collaboration will offer education programs and career pathways that are exclusively for NFPA members and your first opportunity to get involved is Oct 7. For nearly 60 years, Northampton Community College has been the go-to destination for Lehigh Valley residents seeking degrees, workforce training, personal enrichment, and educational opportunities for their children.
The long-term goal of the program is to build and maintain a successful Fast Track hub and to do that NFPA has identified four elements:
- A middle school design/build competition, the Fluid Power Action Challenge to pique interest in fluid power technology and careers before high school
- A ring of local high schools, where activities encourage students to pursue fluid power education and career paths.
- A 2-year college with a validated fluid power related degree program where all this activity can be centered, so that NFPA members have timely and exclusive access to hire the emerging talent.
- A network of NFPA members with facilities near the community to participate in the above listed elements and provide students and graduates with career opportunities.
NFPA and NCC will host a cadence of Workforce Engagement Group meetings designed to bring you the most up to date information about the activities that are happening, and your opportunity to participate to increase your company visibility among the students and schools in your community, and recruit the emerging talent. The inaugural meeting will be held at the Northampton Community College campus at 10:30 am. Lunch will be provided and NFPA members will:
- Meet with NCC Staff and Faculty
- Learn about NCC and their Electromechanical Automation Technology and Industrial Maintenance Millwright programs
- Tour NCC’s Campus
- Learn about NFPA’s Workforce Development Initiatives and our plans for the current academic year.
All NFPA members are welcome, but if you have facilities or hiring needs in the region, please reach out to Stephanie Scaccianoce at sscaccianoce@nfpa.com to learn more or to get involved.
About Northampton Community College
NCC serves over 20,000 students annually through credit and non-credit programs, strategically equipping them with the education needed to enter the workforce or pursue further studies. Offering degrees, certificates, and diplomas in more than 120 fields, NCC is one of the largest employers in the Lehigh Valley and the only community college in Pennsylvania with on-campus housing. With three campuses, NCC fosters a diverse student body, representing a wide range of ages, ethnicities, incomes, and academic interests.