More than $2.5 million in Schools-to-Work grants will be awarded to 12 Pennsylvania programs designed to prepare students for the workforce through classroom training, workplace visits, internships, apprenticeships, mentorships, employment opportunities, job shadowing, externships and more.
“The Schools-to-Work grants provide students with real-world learning opportunities including apprenticeships and internships that will help build solid career paths to employment or secondary education,” Governor Wolf said. “The funds will help Pennsylvania workers obtain the skills and industry-recognized credentials or college credits needed to create a pipeline of highly skilled employees to meet current and future labor market needs.”
Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Secretary Jennifer Berrier said the commonwealth’s economic future depends on developing and maintaining a well-educated and highly trained workforce.
“By investing in programs like Schools-to-Work, this administration continues to flex its creativity in how we support the commonwealth’s economy through the development and retention of skilled workers – with the ultimate goal of providing financial security and a better quality of life for the citizens of Pennsylvania,” Berrier said. “These grant recipients are creating pathways between high school and apprenticeships in their industries, with a strong emphasis on equity and elimination of barriers to obtaining these jobs.”
The funding will support partnerships between schools, employers, organizations and associations to create employment pathways for students and reduce barriers to family-sustaining jobs.
These opportunities are funded through the Reemployment Fund, which assists individuals to become employed or improve their employment. The Reemployment Fund is funded by a portion of employee tax paid under the Unemployment Compensation (UC) Law.
