Department of Labor & Industry Announces State Energy Sector Partnership Education, Training Grantees

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is making available $2.45 million to education and training providers that are preparing Pennsylvanians for green careers in the energy sector.  

The Department of Labor & Industry and Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board, or PA WIB, today announced grants to eight organizations that provide curriculum development, training and apprenticeship programs for unemployed, underemployed and dislocated workers.

"Pennsylvania is among the states with the highest number of green jobs," Labor & Industry Secretary Sandi Vito said. "Advanced workforce policies and wise investments have made the state a national leader in fostering a green economy. These grants will build on that success by helping develop training opportunities and connecting skilled workers with the employers who rely on them."

Accompanied by $2.5 million in private-sector matching funds, this initiative will provide a total of $5 million to energy-sector workforce education and training.

The PA WIB is the Governor's principal private-sector policy advisor on building a strong workforce development system aligned with state education policies and economic development goals. Its members are appointed by the Governor and represent a cross-section of business executives, labor officials, education leaders, economic development practitioners and local elected officials.

Additional information is available at www.paworkforce.state.pa.us. Click "Recovery Act Workforce Information" in the left navigation area, then click "Workforce Development," then "Workforce Development Grants."

For more information about how federal Recovery Act funds are being invested to help Pennsylvania residents and businesses, visit www.recovery.pa.gov.

Media contact: Christopher S. Manlove, 717-787-7530

Editor's note: A list of grant recipients with the counties they serve follows.

Adams, Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntington, Juniata, Lebanon, Perry, Somerset and York counties

• $338,000 with $209,945  matching funds; Total: $547,945 – Harrisburg Area Community College  

Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Mercer, Washington and Westmoreland counties

• $125,000 with $384,000 matching funds; Total: $509,000 – Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board  

Allegheny, Beaver, Greene, and Washington counties

• $250,000 with $274,900 matching funds; Total: $524,900 – A. Phillip Randolf of Pittsburgh  

Bradford, Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Elk, Jefferson, Lycoming, McKean, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union and Wyoming counties

• $158,485 with $79,243 matching funds; Total: $237,728 – Central PA Workforce Development Corporation 

Bucks County

• $315,000 with $239,294 matching funds; Total: $554,294 – Bucks County Community College  

Carbon, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Northampton, Pike, Schuylkill and Wayne counties

• $750,000 with $700,000 matching funds; Total: $1,450,000 – Lehigh Valley Workforce Investment Board  

 Philadelphia County

• $300,000 with $300,000 matching funds; Total: $600,000 –People for People Green, Inc.  

Statewide

• $210,000 with $280,662 matching funds; Total: $490,662 – Keystone Development Partnership

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry