Nearly $4.8 million in PAsmart Industry Partnership Grants have been distributed among 26 recipients with innovative plans to meet local and regional workforce needs.
“The world of work has changed dramatically in the past few years. While change often brings challenge, it also brings opportunity,” said Gov. Tom Wolf. “Industry Partnership Grants are an investment in the future of Pennsylvania, and I am proud of this administration’s work to encourage innovation that meets the needs of Pennsylvania employers and workers.”
Since 2018, nearly $60 million has been distributed statewide to expand job training through registered apprenticeships and industry partnerships and to support STEM and computer science education in hundreds of schools across Pennsylvania.
“Pennsylvania employers are hiring, and they need more skilled workers,” said Department of Labor and Industry Secretary Jennifer Berrier. “PAsmart was created to help close the skills gap and allow more people to get the education and training they need to get those good jobs. The 26 grants announced today enhances the Wolf Administration’s goal to build the strongest workforce in the nation.”
The following PAsmart grant winners and amounts were awarded in the southeast region, which encompasses Bucks County:
AgConnect, $160,000: Funding will be used to expand its employer base to engage a broader and more diverse representation of the industry in the region. AgConnect will convene discovery meetings to align job seeker and employer priorities and will establish employer champions to drive programming and industry sector solutions. Its training plan for industry employees includes training for 186 spots.
Philadelphia Region Hospitality and Entertainment Industry Partnership, $175,000: Funding will be used for various activities related to workforce development, including training, recruiting, marketing, supportive services and contracting.
The Innovative Technology Action Group, $250,000: Funding will be used for employer outreach, events for tech education, incumbent worker training, youth career exploration activities and targeted support for newly formed companies.
Collar County Emergency Medical Services, $75,000: Funding will be used to engage Emergency Medical Services employers from Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties to identify shared needs that can be supported by education, workforce development, economic development or community-based resources.
Southeastern Pennsylvania Manufacturing Alliance, $200,000: Funding will be used for recruitment, training, developing a pipeline of diverse workers and workshops for business growth activities.
Southeastern Pennsylvania Regional Logistics and Transportation Industry Partnership, $200,000: Funding will be used to recruit companies and educational training organizations from across the region to participate in transportation, distribution and logistics industry partnership; to conduct a comprehensive, partnership-wide needs assessment and equity analysis; to devise a sustainability plan that will provide ongoing funding for the partnership; and to evaluate partnership effectiveness.
