Workforce development boards awarded $2.4M from Department of Labor & Industry

The Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) awarded $2.4 million to 19 workforce development boards for Business-Education Partnership grants.

The grants are fully funded through federal money made available from the Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act.

Business-education partnerships connect schools, employers, and students, and provide students with career-related experiences and opportunities to prepare them for good local jobs. The students receive internships, career mentoring, soft-skills development, and workplace shadowing.

“These investments will give students the technical training they need to get good-paying jobs when they join the workforce,” Gov. Tom Wolf said. “Building business and education partnerships will help ensure our students have the skills they need to succeed in today’s economy, while simultaneously creating new generations of highly-skilled workers for Pennsylvania employers.”

Development boards were awarded between $77,387 and $200,000.

At a press conference Thursday, department Secretary Jerry Oleksiak highlighted the $100,000 grant award for the Delaware County Workforce Development Board. The board will use the funds to expand its Two-Generation Career Exploration and Education Program.

He was joined at the event by Delaware County Community College, Educational Data Systems, and local workforce development and education representatives.

Oleksiak visited the college’s nursing and manufacturing simulation labs.