Strong STEM ecosystems aren’t built by chance. They’re built through thoughtful investment, trusted partnerships, and accountability to the community.
At the Lancaster County STEM Alliance (LCSA), grant funding is not simply about distributing dollars. It’s about supporting programs that expand opportunity, strengthen learning pathways, and prepare Lancaster County’s future workforce.
As this year’s funding decisions are finalized, we’re sharing a look at how LCSA turns investment into impact, and how transparency and trust guide the process from start to finish.
Step One: A Thoughtful, Community-Informed Review Process
Every proposal LCSA receives represents time, passion, and a commitment to learners. That’s why our review process is designed to be thorough, equitable, and aligned with community priorities.
Proposals are evaluated based on factors such as:
- Access & Equity: Does the program reach learners who might otherwise lack STEM opportunities?
- Learning Quality: Are experiences hands-on, engaging, and connected to real-world problem solving?
- Career Connection: Do learners gain exposure to STEM careers and local industry pathways?
- Partnership & Collaboration: Does the work strengthen the broader STEM ecosystem?
- Impact Potential: Is there a clear plan to measure outcomes and demonstrate meaningful results?
This approach ensures funding decisions reflect not just good ideas, but programs positioned to make a measurable difference.
Step Two: Understanding Impact Beyond Dollars
Grant amounts tell only part of the story.
For LCSA, impact is defined by what changes for learners and educators, including:
- More students gaining hands-on STEM learning experiences
- Increased access to career exploration and industry exposure
- Educators receiving tools and professional learning to bring STEM to life
- Programs reaching communities that have historically had fewer opportunities
Success is measured not only by participation numbers, but by growth in confidence, skills, and awareness of future pathways. These are the building blocks of a stronger local workforce and a more inclusive STEM ecosystem.
Step Three: Support Doesn’t Stop at the Check
Funding is a partnership, not a transaction.
After grants are awarded, LCSA continues to support organizations by:
- Connecting partners to one another to encourage collaboration and shared learning
- Offering opportunities to showcase their work through events, storytelling, and ecosystem gatherings
- Sharing resources and best practices to strengthen program delivery
- Helping partners align their efforts with broader county-wide STEM strategies
This ongoing engagement helps programs grow stronger, more sustainable, and more connected to the region’s workforce needs.
Why Transparency Matters
LCSA is built on community trust. That means being clear about how decisions are made, how resources are used, and what outcomes are achieved.
By sharing our process, we aim to:
- Strengthen confidence in how STEM investments are stewarded
- Highlight the care and rigor behind funding decisions
- Reinforce that every grant is part of a larger strategy to expand opportunity in Lancaster County
When the community understands the “how,” the impact becomes even more meaningful.
Looking Ahead
Each grant cycle is another step towards a Lancaster County where all learners can access high-quality STEM experiences and see a future for themselves in local careers.
Funding is the beginning. Partnership, support, and accountability are what turn that funding into lasting impact.
That’s how LCSA works and why trust is at the heart of everything we do.
2026 LCSA Grant Award Partners
We’re proud to support organizations working every day to expand access and build strong STEM pathways across Lancaster County.
This year’s grant partners include:
| Out of School | Project Title: Description |
| Edible Classroom | The Edible Classroom will expand summer programming at Columbia SD and SDoL for elementary students while incorporating paid internships who are high school FFA students/mentors from both districts. |
| Intermediate Unit 13 | The IU13 is launching “STEM in Action: Real-World Experiences for Online Learners”. This program addresses STEM learning gaps by engaging virtual learning students from 11 districts with twelve in-person workshops at various community sites. |
| Elizabethtown Child Care Center | ECCC will launch the Discovery STEM Club; serving children ages 3–10 during weekday after-school hours and early evening. Programming will include STEM labs such as “Tiny Engineers,” “Nature Detectives,” and “Coding Through Play.” |
| DEI | Project Title: Description |
| Lancaster Recreation Commission | Funding will launch the “STEM in Motion” initiative that will deploy a co-branded, solar-powered cargo e-trike to deliver hands-on, inclusive STEM learning directly into neighborhoods, parks and public spaces. |
| Common Wheel | Funding will launch new tiered programming that will unite the Earn a Bike program with the student led Youth Bike Workshops. A STEM professional has adapted their curriculum and the bike workshop locations offer geographic accessibility. |
| Cocalico School District | Cocalico will launch STEM workshops that will provide career connections curriculum, high-quality hand tools, and collaborative workbenches for HS students with special needs. |
| STEM EXPLORE | Project Title: Description |
| Bright Side Opportunities Center | Bright Side is launching “SisMantle Tech”. It will operate in collaboration with a new partner Playmakers Summer Lab: Girls Leading Tech & Business, a six-week summer workforce and entrepreneurship initiative serving high school girls. SisMantle Tech moves beyond traditional coding camps by integrating entrepreneurship, AI literacy, and real client engagement into STEM learning. |
| Lancaster Science Factory | The Pittsburgh Children’s Museum (PCM) will customize their “How People Make Things” travelling exhibit for permanent installation at the Lancaster Science Factory. Working with local manufacturers in Lancaster County and designers at PCM they will create a 1,000 sq ft exhibit area that teaches students in pre-k through 8th grade and their families about manufacturing careers in our community through interactive experiences. |
| K-12 PBL | Project Title: Description |
| Junior Achievement | JA has intentionally integrated STEM into two of its most popular programs: JA BizTown for 5th–6th grade students and JA STEM Summit for 9th–10th grade students. These programs allow students to explore how STEM careers align with their individual talents, interests, and strengths. Expanding at no cost into districts. |
| Robotic WorX | Robotic WorX (RWI) will partner with MANTEC, Millersville University, Precision Cobotics (PCI), Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology , and 5 to 8 Lancaster County high schools to launch a new program called “Autonomous Mobile Robot” (AMR) Enablement Program that will serve local manufacturers while expanding student exposure to advanced automation careers. |
