Colleges Launch Hospitality Workforce Initiative in Scranton
Be NEPA's Guest brings together two colleges, school districts and industry partners to train workers for the region's hospitality and tourism sector.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Hospitality
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Luzerne County Community College and Lackawanna College launched the Be NEPA's Guest hospitality and tourism workforce initiative on Thursday. The initiative connects colleges, schools and industry partners to build training pathways for hospitality careers.
Why it matters
The initiative comes as the region's hospitality and tourism industry faces workforce shortages. It aims to connect young adults with training and career opportunities close to home in Scranton and across Northeastern Pennsylvania.
The Mount Airy Foundation made an initial $25,000 contribution to an endowed scholarship fund at the LCCC Foundation. Regional hospitality and tourism generates $8.9 billion in activity and supports 50,000 jobs, while 65% of national hotels and 45% of restaurants report understaffing.
The players
Luzerne County Community College
A public two-year college based in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, serving Luzerne County and the surrounding region.
Lackawanna College
A private college in Scranton, Pennsylvania, offering associate and bachelor's degree programs.
Mount Airy Casino
A resort casino in the Poconos that supports regional education through its foundation.
The details
Students can earn credentials in culinary arts and hospitality management through LCCC's L3C Microcredential Academy in the Marketplace at Steamtown in Scranton, and can then pursue associate degrees at either college. Lackawanna College offers a bachelor's degree in restaurant and food service management, and the Scranton School District is involved through existing dual enrollment partnerships with both colleges.
Timeline
Thursday, November 5, 2026: Be NEPA's Guest initiative launched.
Industry Context
National surveys showing 65% of hotels and 45% of restaurants reporting understaffing frame the regional effort as a local response to a broader labor gap. Be NEPA's Guest applies that response to a region where hospitality and tourism supports 50,000 jobs.
Residents in Scranton and Lackawanna County interested in hospitality careers can enroll in culinary arts or hospitality management credentials at the academy in the Marketplace at Steamtown. The program offers a path to associate and bachelor's degrees without leaving the region.
The takeaway
Local training pipelines that link high schools, community colleges and four-year programs can help employers in labor-short sectors find workers. Students considering hospitality careers can start with a low-cost credential and build toward a degree.
Further reading
For related local coverage, explore Hospitality news across the region.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WOLF.
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