PA Department of Labor & Industry Announces Energy Sector Partnership Education, Training Grants

HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Organizations that prepare Pennsylvania workers for green careers in the growing energy sector will get a $1.2 million boost from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Labor & Industry Secretary Sandi Vito announced today.

"Pennsylvania is among the states with the largest number of green jobs," Vito said. "By fostering the development of education and training programs that deliver the skills necessary for workers to excel in these jobs, we are helping to ensure the growth and vitality of the state's energy sector which is among our most important industries, now and for years to come."

The Department of Labor & Industry and Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board, or PA WIB, are awarding the grants to seven organizations which are investing an additional $800,000 in private-sector matching funds.

The PA WIB is the Governor's principal private-sector policy advisor on building a strong workforce development system aligned with education policies and economic development goals. Its members represent a cross-section of business executives, labor officials, education leaders, economic development practitioners and local elected officials.

Additional information about the grants is available at www.paworkforce.state.pa.us, click "Recovery Act Workforce Information" on the left, then "Workforce Development," then "Workforce Development Grants."

For more information about how federal Recovery Act funds are being invested to help Pennsylvania residents and businesses, visit www.recovery.pa.gov.

Media contact: Christopher S. Manlove, 717-787-7530

Editor's Note: A list of grant recipients with the counties they serve follows.

Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Mercer, Washington and Westmoreland counties

• West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund — $211,660 grant with $120,577 matching funds; Total: $332,237

Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties

• Energy Coordinating Agency of Philadelphia — $100,000 grant with $111,802 matching funds; Total: $211,802

Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Venango and Warren counties

• IBEW Local 56 Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee — $294,675 grant with $147,338 matching funds; Total: $442,013

Lancaster County

• Lancaster County Workforce Investment Board — $150,000 grant with $78,750 matching funds; Total: $228,750

Montgomery County

• Montgomery County Workforce Investment Board — $200,000 grant with $200,000 matching funds; Total: $400,000

Philadelphia County

• Metropolitan Career Center — $150,000 grant with $108,000 matching funds; Total: $324,000
• American Cities Foundation — $50,000 grant with $25,000 matching funds; Total: $75,000

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry