As a wave of federal funding to back infrastructure projects heads toward Pennsylvania, Gov. Josh Shapiro on Monday came to Pittsburgh to tout a $400 million investment over five years meant to bolster workforce training programs across the state.
The governor signed an executive order creating the Commonwealth Workforce Transformation Program to work in partnership with contractors, unions and employers involved in federally funded infrastructure projects. The partners need to agree to train workers for up to six months.
Through the program, the state will reimburse training costs — up to $40,000 per worker — including child care, uniforms, equipment and certification costs, Mr. Shapiro said.
Projects that would qualify might include repairing roads and bridges, replacing lead pipes and expanding high-speed internet.
The $400 million in funding comes from the Inflation Reduction Act, which was signed in 2022 by President Joe Biden and targeted to reducing inflation and investing in domestic manufacturing, along with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which was signed into law in 2021 to provide funding to major infrastructure projects across the country.
Pennsylvania is expected to receive up to $19 billion over the next few years for infrastructure related projects, Mr. Shapiro said.
“If we want to create real opportunities for our people we need to invest in our workers and expand our workforce,” said Mr. Shapiro, who had a news conference Monday in front of some construction equipment on Stafford Street in the West End.
He was joined by a number of dignitaries including Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, U.S. Rep., Summer Lee, Secretary for the Department of Labor and Industry Nancy Walker, Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority CEO Will Pickering, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and President of the Allegheny-Fayette Labor Council Darrin Kelly.
To qualify for the program, employees must be new to the job, work full time with benefits and have been hired to work on a federally funded project or have been in the employer’s training program for at least six months.
Further qualifications include that one must be either a recent graduate of high school, trade school or community college; be enrolled or completed an apprenticeship, or pre-apprenticeship program; be registered with PA CareerLink at time of hire; be paroled or released from a correctional institution within the past six months of hire; or have been a recipient of SNAP, WIC or another cash assistance program, according to the program’s website.
Currently, Allegheny County is at a 37-year-low unemployment rate of about 3.5%.
Ms. Lee, D-Swissvale, called the program “crucial and innovate” for the state’s workforce.
In 2021, when the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was passed, there was concern over if there would be enough workers for large federal infrastructure projects and economists suggested investment in programs that highlight workforce development.
On Monday, Mr. Shapiro claimed the program would bring jobs to 10,000 people around the state.
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry will manage the program. Employers interested in participating can contact newjobs@pa.gov for more information.
Ciara McEneany: cmceneany@post-gazette.com
First Published: July 31, 2023, 8:54 p.m.
Updated: August 1, 2023, 2:17 p.m.