L&I Secretary Walker Encourages Pennsylvanians to Discover Career Opportunities at PA CareerLink® Northwest Philadelphia

Philadelphia Works today announced that 12 different local organizations are the recipients of new grant funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to support the startup and expansion of Registered Apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs.  The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry awarded the grants, which will be distributed through Philadelphia Works, the local Workforce Development Board for the City of Philadelphia.

“We are thrilled to be the largest workforce board recipient of new Apprenticeship funding from the Commonwealth,” said H. Patrick Clancy, President and CEO of Philadelphia Works.  “Here in Philadelphia, there is a rising tide of organizations and industries that now see the value of building viable career pathways to find and recruit talented employees. These awards are a testament to the visionary work of both our internal staff and our many dedicated partners.  We thank Governor Wolf and our colleagues in Harrisburg for this important investment in our future.”

In total, 12 different organizations received a total of 16 grants–some received both implementation and capacity-building grants. These diverse organizations provide both traditional trade apprenticeships and non-traditional apprenticeships in IT, health, Biotech and services.  The grants provide funding for pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship programs, and help sponsoring organizations build capacity to improve and expand their programs.  Philadelphia Works received approximately $1 million of the $3.5 million in total awards to local Workforce Development Boards across the commonwealth as part of the Governor’s PASmart initiative.

“My PAsmart initiative is an innovative approach to building pathways that will offer greater prosperity for our workers and businesses,” said Governor Wolf. “Apprenticeships are incredibly important, as they connect the people who want to learn new career skills with the companies and industries that need highly trained employees. We propose to invest a total of $50 million in PAsmart, including $7 million to help double the number of registered apprentices in the commonwealth by 2025.”

 The full list of awardees is as follows:

• A Road to Success – Cosmetology and Barber Program – $56,080 pre-apprenticeship/apprenticeship grant
• Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children – $49,600 capacity building grant
• District 1199c – $85,000 pre-apprenticeship/apprenticeship grant and $50,000 capacity building grant
• Finishing Trades Institute – $80,000 pre-apprenticeship/apprenticeship grant
• International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local #14 – $75,000 pre-apprenticeship/apprenticeship grant
• International Association of Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 19 – $62,000 pre-apprenticeship/apprenticeship grant and $45,495 capacity building grant
• International Union of Operating Engineers Local 542 – $45,495 capacity building grant
• JEVS Human Services – $99,956.60 pre-apprenticeship/apprenticeship grant and $49,996 building capacity grant
• Philadelphia Carpenters JATC – $50,000 capacity building grant
• Urban Technology Project – $75,000 pre-apprenticeship/apprenticeship grant and $45,495 capacity building grant
• The Wistar Institute – $85,000 pre-apprenticeship/apprenticeship grant
• Zhang Sah – $45,495 capacity building grant

“This funding will provide much needed support in bringing together stakeholders from a variety of industry sectors to make progress towards the common goal of putting more people to work,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “These models align closely with our citywide workforce development strategy, which is focused on creating new career pathways for residents in positions that pay a family-sustaining wage.  I congratulate Philadelphia Works and its many partners on this exciting announcement.”

For more information about the grant program, visit: https://www.governor.pa.gov/governor-wolf-announces-3-5-million-61-grants-enhance-apprenticeships/