A new workforce-training program announced Thursday in the Lehigh Valley aims to help displaced workers finish degrees or certifications and secure higher-paying jobs.
Allentown-based Workforce Board Lehigh Valley is calling the initiative “Finish What You Start.” It’s funded by a $1.6 million grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry as part of the statewide $8.2 million Near Completer Demonstration Project.
Locally, the program aims to help 200 people in Lehigh and Northampton counties who meet specific criteria, including having lost a job due to the COVID-19 pandemic since March 1, 2020.
“It is projected that this grant will influence eligible workers to complete their degrees or training in High Priority Occupations -- the high-quality, well-paying jobs that lead to career pathways and job growth,” said Laurie Hackett, chairwoman of the Lehigh Valley Workforce Board that is administering the program.
Eligible workers must have been making less than $15 an hour prior to their job loss, in the following industries disrupted by the coronavirus:
- Accommodation and food service.
- Health care and social assistance.
- Construction.
- Administrative and waste services.
- Manufacturing.
- Retail trade.
- Transportation and warehousing.
Participants must also meet admission requirements for the college or training program they are interested in attending, and they must be able to finish their certificate or associate’s or bachelor’s degree within one semester or 16 weeks -- unless a waiver is approved by Labor & Industry.
Also to be eligible, workers must be interested in and capable of securing employment within 12 months of completing their education program. Former post-secondary students who left their education training since Jan. 1, 2016, before completing a degree or credential must have had a GPA of at least 2.0 and must be capable of returning to finish their degree.
Workforce Board Lehigh Valley on Thursday hosted a news conference to launch the program at its offices also home to PA CareerLink Lehigh Valley at 555 Union Boulevard in Allentown. Workers interested in learning more can call 610-437-5627 (610-437-0741 for TTY).
The Lehigh Valley’s 15,640 companies have nearly 8,000 open jobs, Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure said in helping to introduce the new training initiative.
“There are a lot more openings now because some people are still collecting unemployment, some people are still getting some other benefits and schools were closed, they had the children at home, they weren’t putting them back in day care,” said Workforce Board Lehigh Valley Executive Director Nancy Dischinat. “And our economy was growing during the pandemic. Now we just have to make sure we have a workforce that can get into all those jobs, and that’s what we’re trying to say: How do we skill-up everybody?”
Workforce Board Lehigh Valley Executive Director Nancy Dischinat, left, introduces Wilson Area High School sophomore Jenni Silfies as the face of the CareerLinking program for youth Thursday, July 8, 2021, at the offices the board shares with PA CareerLink offices at 555 Union Blvd. in Allentown.Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com
Dischinat also highlighted during the news conference the CareerLinking Academy available to local students beginning at age 7 to help connect them with careers and necessary skills for success. Thursday’s event featured brief remarks from Wilson Area High School sophomore Jenni Silfies, 15, a CareerLinking participant.
Jenni is the face of CareerLinking, appearing on billboards across the Lehigh Valley. Dischinat called on local businesses to contact PA CareerLink Lehigh Valley to establish Career Pathways that connect job-seekers with opportunities.
“Students my age are not eligible for the Near Completer program, however, I am asking businesses -- all 15,640 of them -- to continue to develop Career Pathways so that my friends, classmates and all the completers involved in this grant will benefit from knowing what knowledge, skills and abilities are needed for jobs,” Jenni said.
Thursday’s event also featured Northampton Community College President Mark Erickson and Lehigh Carbon Community College President Ann Bieber saying their schools stand ready to help workers “Finish What You Start.”
“Truth be told, if not for us, many of our students would have not other option for pursuing a college education or their career dreams,” Erickson said in prepared remarks. “Which is why I am so excited about the ‘Finish What You Start’ Dislocated Workers Near Completer Project because it will help more of our students and more workforce members receive education, training and career preparation.”
Along with the community colleges, current certified training providers in Lehigh and Northampton counties with approved PA CareerLink programs are:
- 160 Driving Academy.
- Bethlehem Area Vocational Technical School.
- Falcon Institute of Health and Science.
- Full Circle Computing.
- Lehigh Career and Technical Institute.
- Lincoln Institute.
- McCann School of Business and Technology.
- MedCerts.
- Muhlenberg College.
- New Horizons Computer Learning Center.
- Penn State Lehigh Valley.
- Roadmaster Drivers School of Pennsylvania.
- Triangle Tech.
- Welder Training & Testing Institute.
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Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
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