Matzie: Nearly $750,000 awarded to bolster workforce training in Beaver County, region
Rep. Robert Matzie February 15, 2024 | 4:26 PM
AMBRIDGE, Feb. 15 – Job seekers in Beaver County and the region will see new career training opportunities, thanks to $744,000 in funding to area workforce partners, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today.
Matzie, D-Beaver, said the Industry Partnership grants awarded by the state Department of Labor and Industry will benefit job seekers and regional employers alike.
“Targeted career training and apprenticeships are the surest path to good-paying, family-sustaining jobs in the trades,” Matzie said. “Securing this new funding will allow our region’s workforce training partners to attract more students to in-demand fields like advanced manufacturing and to provide more concentrated training in fields like electrical, mechanical maintenance and health care. Beyond attracting and training new job seekers, some of the funding will also go toward upgrading skills in the current workforce.
“It’s an investment that creates new opportunities to keep young residents in our region and one that pays off for our employers, as well, by ensuring that they have the motivated, well-trained pool of candidates they need to stay competitive.”
Matzie said the funding includes:
- $250,000 to Southwest Corner Workforce Development Board to help the Southwest Corner Building and Construction Industry Partnership recruit new employees, better diversify the workforce and train incumbent workers.
- $250,000 to Three Rivers Area Labor Management Committee to help the PA Steel Alliance Industry Partnership with projects including upskilling workers in electrical and mechanical maintenance, advanced skill training and developing new training opportunities through immersive technologies like augmented reality platforms.
- $144,000 to Southwest Corner Workforce Development Board to help Southwest Corner Advanced Manufacturing promote careers in manufacturing, upgrade skills in the current workforce and establish and expand apprenticeships, among other projects.
- $100,000 to Southwest Corner Workforce Development Board to help Southwest Corner Healthcare focus on outreach and recruitment, training and career pathways and retention in high-priority health care careers.
More about the funding is available here: https://www.media.pa.gov/pages/labor-and-industry-details.aspx?newsid=826