WEDNet: State Overview/Plan

Business-Government Training Partnerships Need Strengthening

In the process, NCC's Center for Business & Industry, one of the area's WEDnet partners, showed a decrease in overall invoicing and utilization of WEDnet dollars offered to local business and industry, readily available training & development (T&D) dollars from the Commonwealth. With two community colleges serving the Valley as active WEDnet partners, they will be managing an approximate combined WEDnet allocation estimated at $1.7 million. Coupled with the Industry Partnership grants, there is close to $3 million in the Lehigh Valley to be utilized for T&D in a year.

At a time when American companies are functioning leaner than ever and with grant funding and other resources readily available to local employers, why is business not taking advantage of these opportunities that will improve productivity and profitability?

I believe this can be attributed to a few significant factors: (1) lack of clarity on how to navigate all of the funding sources to maximize impact; (2) just too many choices, too much money; (3) the inability to take the time to allow for much needed training to occur; or 4) lack of knowledge that such programs exist.

Ever since I have been involved in workforce development and state funding (over the past ten years), the line in the sand has been drawn and the line was very clear. The Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) worked with employers and the existing workforce across the state and the Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) worked with employers that have new, emerging or displaced workforces. The roles were pretty much black and white. But since Governor Rendell's Job Ready PA Initiative, we are now dealing with “a touch of grey.”

Rendell's plan for integration—Job Ready PA—is a series of initiatives designed to restructure Pennsylvania's workforce development system in order to address specific goals critical to remain competitive in the global marketplace. The primary goal is to strengthen Pennsylvania's industries and create industry-led strategies for training and growth.

In 2007-08, $20 million was committed by L&I to industry partnerships through Job Ready PA, with partnerships numbering 109 across the Commonwealth. Locally, there are four Industry Partnerships (IP) through the LVWIB averaging $200,000 - $400,000 per IP. They are: Diversified Manufacturing, Food Manufacturing, in partnership with WIB at Montgomery County Community College, Healthcare and Logistics & Transportation. Another $22 million was committed to the WEDnet GFT (Guranteed Free Training) program for incumbent worker training through DCED. This totals $42 million invested for workforce development in one program year. On average, $3.5 million per month to be utilized across the state.

Take Advantage

The following programs and funding sources are offered to employers to build strengths in important areas of operation within a business, to support multiple management practices, to provide a continuum of services and to capitalize on opportunities to move companies forward with a shared focus. Briefly, they are:

•  Pennsylvania Workforce Improvement Network (PAWIN) www.pawerc.org Funded by the PA Department of Education, Bureau of Adult Basic and Literacy Education (ABLE), PAWIN provides foundation skills training in the following areas:

•  Basic Employability Skills (interpersonal skills, self-management, teamwork)

•  Basic Workplace Skills (reading, writing, listening, observing)

•  Basic Workplace Knowledge (organizational structure, health & safety concepts)

•  English as a Second Language (ESL)

•  Workforce & Economic Development of Pennsylvania (WEDnetPA) Guaranteed Free Training Program. www.wednetpa.com

Funded by the PA Department of Community and Economic Development, this program funds training in two core areas:

•  Basic Skills: Business Operations, Communication & Teamwork, Computer Operations, Manufacturing Fundamentals, Quality Assurance

•  IT Skills: Database Development, Computer Programming, Website Design, Network Administration, Information Security, E-Commerce/Business, Advanced Applied Manufacturing Technology (CAD, CAM , CNC , PLC )

•  Customized Job Training (CJT) Program. www.newpa.com

Funded by the PA Department of Community and Economic Development, it provides funds for customized, higher level or advanced training not covered under the Guaranteed Free Training Program.

•  Industry Partnership Worker Training Program. www.state.pa.us

Funded by the PA Department of Labor and Industry, this program identifies the necessary cutting-edge skills for ten targeted industry clusters; meets common high skill training needs of multiple employers within a cluster; and by doing so, enhances the competitiveness of member companies.

The Center for Business & Industry prides itself in the ability for companies to easily access resources to serve local industry and remain an active partner in assisting employers by providing the most current information about the integrated efforts and resources available in the Commonwealth. Contact us at 610-861-4588 or e-mail me at mpappalardo@northampton.edu .

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