Funding helping to advance the Mayor’s education goals
PHILADELPHIA – Mayor Michael A. Nutter and the Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board (WIB) announced today the granting of $2.92 million of stimulus funding for training programs available to adults and recently laid-off workers.
“This new funding is being used quickly and strategically to meet the needs of our workforce and our businesses. It will be distributed across a variety of growing industries to help strengthen our economy. And, many individuals who enroll in these training programs will be able to receive college credits or certification,” Mayor Nutter said. “When I took office, I said education and jobs were priorities. This funding is expected to improve our city on both fronts.”
A majority of the funding will be directed into training programs focused in high-growth industries, including: clean energy; business and financial services; education and social services; hospitality; healthcare and life sciences; construction, logistics and transportation. These training funds will be administered by the Philadelphia Workforce Development Corp. (PWDC).For a full list of programs receiving funding, please see the following page.
During his remarks, Mayor Nutter also took a moment to highlight a program led by the Mayor’s Office of Re-entry to give 50 ex-offenders the chance to learn the telecommunications trades of installer and cabler. “We know employment goes a long way in reducing recidivism rates among former inmates, and we are pleased to provide this targeted training opportunity that will give people new options.”
Today’s announcement was hosted by the Community College of Philadelphia, which received $360,000 to train people in medical billing and coding, social service assistance and network administration.
“The Community College of Philadelphia is honored to be selected as a training provider for a number of programs,” said Dr. Stephen M. Curtis, the College president. “We always welcome the opportunity to enhance the connection between higher education and the workforce, and the college is prepared to develop new, innovative programs to meet the needs of our business community.”
In sum, the $2.92 million awarded will go toward 631 job-training slots. The PWDC will contract with the selected providers for the delivery of the programs.
The selected programs are funded from the $6.7 million in workforce funding awarded to Philadelphia through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for the target population. The balance of the funds will be directed into workforce-related services to those who have lost their jobs or are seeking employment, as well as additional training to be announced at a later date.
All of these programs can be accessed through the PA CareerLink Centers. There are five CareerLink Centers located throughout Philadelphia that serve as a “one-stop” network for individuals seeking employment or career advancement. In addition to connecting people to training programs, CareerLink Centers provide job search assistance, skill enhancement, workshops on topics such as resume writing and interviewing and a range of supportive services.
A portion of the ARRA funding also will go toward increasing the capacity of Philadelphia’s CareerLink Centers, which will enable approximately 30,000 additional people a year to have access to the broad range of services offered.
“The selected training programs are a great first step toward getting our residents re-connected to the workforce,” said Roosevelt Hairston, Jr., chairman of the Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board and Vice President of Government & Community Affairs for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “Several of these programs link workforce training and academic credit, which helps further Mayor Nutter’s goals of preparing people for lifetime employment.”
Hairston said choosing from the many proposals received was difficult for the 15-member review team comprised of board members from the Philadelphia WIB and PWDC, as well as representatives from the city administration and economic development. Seventy-five proposals were received in all, requesting more than 10 times the available resources.
Lenita Jacobs-Simmons, Regional Administrator for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration, made remarks during the event as well. “I would like to commend the city and the Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board for putting this money out on the street quickly,” she said. “Stimulus funding is intended to jump-start our economy and help get people back to work, and Philadelphia seems to be on track to do just that.”
Jacobs-Simmons applauded the city and the Philadelphia WIB for taking advantage of the provisions in the Act to help Philadelphians obtain college credits, noting that getting more people college-educated is in alignment with President Obama’s vision for the country.
About the Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board
Founded in 1999, the Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board is a volunteer commission appointed by the Mayor of Philadelphia with the legislated responsibility to govern the public workforce system in the city, including the CareerLink Centers. The organization that supports the commission – Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board, Inc. – provides expertise in all facets of workforce development, and works to align the skills of the region’s labor force to meet the needs of industry, ultimately supporting the region’s growth and prosperity. The organization’s vision is a thriving and inclusive regional economy and its mission is to advocate and advance a demand-driven opportunity agenda that effectively prepares Philadelphians to compete in the economic mainstream.
Programs Receiving Funding
For entry-level construction trades, JEVS/Orleans Tech will receive up to $264,000, as well as $144,000 for telecomm installer and cabler positions. The Mayor’s Office of Re-Entry will receive up to $240,000 for ex-offenders to receive telecomm installer and cabler training.
In healthcare, District 1199c Training and Education Fund will receive up to $300,000 for certified nursing assistant training, while KRA Corp. will receive up to $125,000 for phlebotomy training. Allied Technical Institute of Philadelphia will receive up to $140,000 for medical billing and coding training, while Community College of Philadelphia will receive up to $120,000 for similar training.
In education, Congreso de Latinos Unidos will receive up to $300,000 for a childhood development associate program, Holy Family University will receive up to $240,000 a teacher certification program and Community College of Philadelphia will receive up to $120,000 for a social service assistant program.
In the logistics and transportation field, Congreso de Latinos Unidos will receive up to $150,000 for a truck driving CDL training program, as will All State Career. Congreso de Latinos Unidos will subcontract its program to All State.
In business and financial services, Community College of Philadelphia will receive up to $120,000 for a network administrator program, while the Center for Innovative Training and Education will receive up to $129,000 for a secretarial program.
The Doe Fund (Ready, Willing and Able) will receive up to $108,000 to train homeless men in entry-level work and work readiness skills.
The Maxwell Education Group will receive up to $150,000 for training in solar panel installation and sales.
Educational Data Systems, Inc. will receive up to $60,000 for 50 new job placement slots, while Impact will receive $60,000 for 50 retail job placement slots tied to a Kensington economic development project.
