The Chester County Economic Development Council, in collaboration with the Chester County Workforce Development Board, will receive nearly $1 million in state grant funding to support the upskilling of our region’s existing workforce, while preparing a qualified pipeline of workers to meet the growing needs of our high-priority industries.

The funding, which comes through the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry’s Next Generation Industrial Partnerships program, aims to bring together employers in high-priority industries to address the most pressing challenges facing these industries.

Employer-driven industry partnerships provide a collective approach to innovative career exploration opportunities for students, targeted and advanced skill training for current workers, and the sharing of industry best practices.

“The success of the industry partnerships is directly attributed to the commitment of the many volunteers from both the public and private sectors, along with the key grant support from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” said Gary Smith, President and CEO of the CCEDC. “It is our longstanding belief that workforce development IS economic development.”

The Chester County Economic Development Council will utilize four grants to implement the action plans of the following partnerships:

• $250,000 to implement a partnership with the Manufacturing Alliance of Chester and Delaware Counties
• $250,000 to implement a partnership with Innovative Technology Action Group (ITAG)
• $250,000 to implement a partnership with Health Care Connect
• $220,000 to implement a partnership with the Smart Energy Initiative of Southeastern Pennsylvania

Since 2006, Chester County-led industry partnerships have provided training to more than 16,000 existing workers, engaged more than 40,000 students in hands-on career initiatives, and assisted numerous businesses with their recruiting and hiring needs.

Training Grant Funds are available to qualified businesses. For more information, please contact Marianne Stack, ITAG/i2n Program Manager at mstack@ccedcpa.com.

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