Lehigh Valley receiving workforce funding

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Lehigh Valley counties are receiving an investment from the Shapiro Administration to strengthen the area’s workforce.

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) announced a $2.8 million investment in Industry Partnership grants to ten organizations to strengthen Pennsylvania‘s workforce and economy. According to a release, the Industry Partnership program connects regional business leaders within a shared industry with public partners to address workforce challenges and enhance industry competitiveness.

“Industry Partnerships work because they are driven by employers and grounded in the needs of local communities, connecting workers to good jobs, helping businesses grow, and strengthening our regional economies,” L&I Secretary Nancy Walker said in a statement. “As we’ve seen the program’s impact grow across the commonwealth, it’s clear that continued investment in Industry Partnerships will allow us to expand this important work and ensure that more communities have a stronger, more resilient workforce.”

The following organizations have been awarded Industry Partnership grants that impact the Lehigh Valley:

Workforce Board Lehigh Valley (Lehigh, Northampton counties – $200,000): Healthcare is Hot! A Regional Workforce Strategy will support the healthcare industry while meeting the workforce needs of businesses and workers. It will accomplish its goals through developing and implementing career pathways, creating a shared retention toolkit for employers, facilitating industry-wide mentoring to support supervisors, and promoting healthcare careers.

Chester County Workforce Development Board (Berks, Bucks, Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, Schuylkill, York counties – $350,000): The Smart Energy Initiative of Southeastern PA will help companies navigate new energy laws and “site-ready” requirements, address energy distribution challenges affecting business operations, and prepare for emerging opportunities in micro-nuclear, geothermal, and other high-growth clean-energy sectors. The actions will directly help employers, job seekers, and align support to strengthen Pennsylvania’s energy sector.

Chester County Workforce Development Board (Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia counties – $350,000): Health Care Connect will continue to build on existing initiatives in strengthening pathways that inspire interest in healthcare careers and equip participants with the critical skills necessary for clinical practice. The three pillars of partnership activities will focus on next generation engagement, professional development and leadership training, and succession planning and organizational stability.

University City District (Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia counties – $349,600): The Keystone LifeSci Collaborative will implement activities that strengthen employer competitiveness, expand equitable talent pipelines and retain skilled workers by aligning infrastructure, early awareness, and career transition support. The partnership will establish a regional talent hub platform, develop industry professionals to represent the industry, and provide support to retain and re-engage displaced life science professionals.