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A new state program will allow Pennsylvania employers develop new pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship program.
The new program will be led by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) and work with employers to provide specialized training for students and adults.
“The expansion of our apprenticeship programs provides Pennsylvania companies and our workforce with a competitive edge,” said Governor Tom Wolf. “The creation of this new program reinforces our commitment to providing job seekers with hands-on training and helps to create a pipeline of highly-skilled talent for employers.”
The new program will be funded by money repaid to the state from businesses and organizations that have received state support and failed to meet the state requirements of the contract.
From the state:
DCED is accepting grant proposals from apprenticeship sponsors such as single employers, employer consortiums, workforce development boards, economic development organizations, labor organization, career tech schools, Pennsylvania community colleges, and community organizations. Eligible apprenticeships must be registered with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry’s Apprenticeship and Training Office (ATO).
Grants can be used to complement hourly salaries of in-house instructors for training that supports on-the-job training, costs of books and training materials, contracted professional services directly related to academic competency, and other expenses deemed eligible by DCED.
Since the ATO office was created in early 2016, 2,610 new apprentices and 81 new registered apprenticeship occupations statewide have been created, bringing the total number of registered programs to 750 and the total number of registered apprentices to 15,201 statewide.
To learn more about the Pre-Apprenticeship and Apprenticeship Grant Program or to apply for a grant, go to the DCED website. To register an apprenticeship program with the ATO, go to the Labor and Industry website.
