Three apprenticeship programs in central Pennsylvania and Lehigh Valley are among 14 awarded grants totaling $4.9 million, Gov. Tom Wolf said. 

The U.S. Department of Labor, as part of its Apprenticeship Ambassador Initiative, announced the selection of the initial cohort of 207 officials and organizations chosen to serve as Apprenticeship Ambassadors. 

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry was awarded $3.9 million from the U.S. Department of Labor to strengthen and modernize Registered Apprenticeship programs. 

Apprenticeship programs are growing across the state to help students earn while they learn and provide employers with a stream of workers they need. Thursday, Gov. Tom Wolf announced awards totaling more than $11 million for 26 apprenticeship programs for occupations in agriculture, manufacturing, health care, IT, education, human services, building trades and more. 

Pennsylvania is offering $12.5 million in PAsmart grants to support the growth of registered apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships in new industries and occupations for Pennsylvania workers. “Apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships create hands-on learning environments that allow workers to learn important skills while they earn,” said Jennifer Berrier, state Department of Labor and Industry secretary in a press release.