Centers of Excellence Overview

Taking the long view, we see ourselves as part of a network for organizations in Lancaster County that form a local Innovation System whose purpose is to assure that the competitive advantages of key regional industries are sustained and grow. We know that a skilled workforce is essential to competitiveness but we also know that technology commercialization, entrepreneurship, local research and development, and location amenities are components of regional economic growth.

As we define them, Centers of Excellence have five essential functions

1. Local research and development;
2. Technology transfer activities;
3. Entrepreneurial development activities;
4. Incumbent worker training; and
5. Maintenance of a pipeline from school to work for essential careers

For the last three years, the Lancaster County Workforce Investment Board has been a partner in Lancaster Prospers, the economic development collaborative that has been charged with building a local Innovation System for Lancaster County. We have been responsible for implementing the Centers of Excellence strategy, one of seven in the current work plan.

There are currently four Centers of Excellence

1. Production Agriculture;
2. Long-Term Care Practice;
3. Packaging Operations;
4. Radio Frequency Identification