The long-time jobless from across Chester County are starting to gather once more at the Platform to Employment (P2E), and the second Hire One train will soon leave the station for a five-week job seeker preparation trip and an eight-week paid work experience.

The P2E journey will take participants who have been unemployed for more than 26 weeks and have exhausted all unemployment benefits through skills assessments, career readiness workshops, employee assistance programs and more. Along the way, career coaches work with participants to leverage their professional experience and develop effective job search strategies.

“Employers cannot find good fits for some open positions,” Commissioner Terence Farrell said of the first P2E program. “Many of our long-term unemployed people have the skills required for those positions, but they need career-related support services to strengthen those skills. Platform to Employment addresses that need.”

For employers, P2E offers a risk-free opportunity to evaluate and consider hiring participants during an eight-week work experience program.

Funding for the training and work experience is being provided by the Chester County Workforce Development Board, and the program will begin April 25.

Find out more or apply for a seat in the next P2E train here, and check out previous VISTA Today coverage of the program here.