L&I announces $2.6 million to prepare students for jobs post-pandemic

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry announced that $2.6 million in Schools-to-Work program grants is available to support new partnerships between schools and employers to create employment paths for students.

Through the program, grants will be awarded and funded in increments up to $250,000 to create learning opportunities for participating students that include classroom training, workplace visits, internships and more.

“The Schools-to-Work program grants will create hands-on learning opportunities for students, including apprenticeships, workplace visits and internships that will create career paths to employment or secondary education,” said Jennifer Berrier, the department’s acting secretary.

“These funds will help ensure that our workers obtain the industry-recognized skills, certifications or college credits needed to put them on a solid career path to employment and help meet current and future labor market needs.”

The grant program was first introduced to the House in early 2019 by Reps. Jared Solomon R-Philadelphia, Kate Klunk R-York and Aaron Bernstine R-Lawrence, Beaver and Butler counties. It was amended into House Bill 265 of 2019 and was approved by Wolf in late 2019

The program was created after the representatives learned of a partnership between Hanover Public School District and local businesses such as Utz, Elsner Engineering and Snyder’s. Through the partnership, the businesses created a curriculum and invested in equipment for students to learn trades and obtain certifications.

When creating the legislation in 2019, the representatives couldn’t have guessed how it could help rebuild the commonwealth following the pandemic and its ensuing economic downturn it caused, said Klunk.

“American manufacturing is on the rise, even despite the pandemic. The Schools-to-Work program is a wonderful opportunity for students to gain the knowledge they need for the jobs of tomorrow,” he said.