Pisciottano: Funding available for local pre-apprenticeship programs
State grants to support workforce development programs
Rep. Nick Pisciottano September 14, 2022 | 1:46 PM
HARRISBURG, Sept. 14 – State Rep. Nick Pisciottano is encouraging local pre-apprenticeship programs to apply for state grants of up to $250,000 as part of a $2.5 million Schools-to-Work Program from the state Department of Labor & Industry.
“Students pursuing post-secondary education face costs that are exorbitant and frankly unmanageable,” Pisciottano said. “It’s vital that we exhaust all opportunities to ease these burdens and ensure our workforce is equipped with skills that will accelerate Allegheny County’s economy.”
Pisciottano highlighted the fact that the Community College of Allegheny County received more than $188,000 through the program earlier this year, enabling an additional 75 area high school students to gain manufacturing industry experience.
The current round of Schools-to-Work funding follows two previous rounds of grants in recent months (more information on Round 1 and Round 2) totaling about $5.6 million to 24 programs).
The $2.5 million of available funding will be awarded in increments up to $250,000 to be used for classroom training, workplace visits, internships, apprenticeships, mentorships, employment opportunities, job shadowing and externships, as well as additional resources.
Successful project applications should create career opportunities that lessen the gap between high school and employment or post-secondary education through the use of pre-apprenticeships. Applicants must be registered with the department as a pre-apprenticeship program and be connected to a registered apprenticeship program that will be responsible for administering and operating a pre-apprenticeship program.
Additional details and the grant application for the Schools-to-Work grants can be found on the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry’s website. Applications for Round 3 of the Schools-to-Work grants are due by 4 p.m. on Oct. 12. Programs funded under Round 3 of Schools-to-Work grants will operate from June 1, 2023 - May 31, 2025.