SANFORD — York County Community College is launching a program designed to train students for careers in the manufacturing industry at local companies like Pratt & Whitney.

The grand opening of the new precision machining technology facility in Sanford was Friday.

The community college says it has been working with Pratt & Whitney, General Dynamics and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard to see what skills they are looking for in workers and incorporate those into the curriculum.

House Speaker Mark Eves of North Berwick, who attended Friday’s event, says in a statement the program shows how investing in higher education can pay off for employers and workers. The Legislature recently passed a new law to double the capacity of YCCC’s program.

There are currently 34 students enrolled in the program this fall.