BLOOMSBURG, PA — Students preparing for potential careers in Pennsylvania’s natural gas industry are benefitting from approximately $30,000 in natural gas pipeline materials that were donated and delivered to the Columbia-Montour Area Vocational-Technical School in Bloomsburg, Pa. this afternoon.

The donation, which was made by Williams and local natural gas producer Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation, included approximately 200 feet of pipe and associated steel joints and pipe fittings.

“This pipe donation is very significant for our vocational program at the Columbia-Montour AVTS to provide students with hands-on training as they prepare for careers in the gas industry,” said David Bacher, Administrative Director, Columbia-Montour Area Vocational-Technical School. “We are very grateful to Cabot and Williams for this gift.”

Williams Public Outreach Manager Mike Atchie says the in-kind donation is a great example of how Williams is not only supporting education, but also preparing the possible next generation of pipeline employees.

“Pipeline materials like this are costly to acquire, especially for a rural school of this size,” says Mike. “A donation like this will last the school for years and goes a very long way to make it possible for students to gain necessary skills before entering the workforce.”

Columbia-Montour Area Vocational-Technical School is a full-time vocational-technical school serving the youth of Columbia and Montour counties in Pennsylvania. The school offers 17 training areas to secondary students in grades nine through 12 and is an extension of the educational programs of the seven participating local school districts. The vocational education option provides students with a full range of educational choices.