Bucks Co. Students Offered Employment Pathways Through Grants

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — An estimated $500,000 in grants will be awarded to students of Bucks County Community College and other Bucks County schools as a part of the "Schools-to-Work" grant program.

Governor Tom Wolf announced that the grant program will be awarding over $2.5 million in educational grants to students throughout the state of Pennsylvania. Split down the middle, Bucks County Community College, which has campuses in Newtown, Bristol, and Perkasie, will receive $250,000 in grants, and other Bucks County schools, in general, will collectively receive $250,000 as well.

The funding from the grants, which is made possible through the Reemployment Fund, will support partnerships between schools, employers, organizations, and associations to create employment pathways for students, as well as create more opportunities for those pursuing family-sustaining careers and jobs.

"The Schools-to-Work grants provide students with real-world learning opportunities including apprenticeships and internships that will help build solid career paths to employment or secondary education," Governor Wolf said. "The funds will help Pennsylvania workers obtain the skills and industry-recognized credentials or college credits needed to create a pipeline of highly skilled employees to meet current and future labor market needs."

A statement from the Governor's Office of Communications listed the grants' usage in Bucks County schools as such:

In Bucks County:

"A NuPaths, LLC certified instructor will deliver courses in an online format, starting in September 2022 and September 2023 for approximately 40 high school juniors and seniors. The curriculum will focus on attaining industry-recognized qualifications, five IT certifications, and up to eight college credits with pathways for transition to a registered apprenticeship program, post-secondary education program, or employment. Upon completion, graduates will be eligible for the Information Technology Generalist Registered Apprenticeship, sponsored by JEVS Human Services in Philadelphia, PA."

At Bucks County Community College:

"The Center for Workforce Development (CWD) at Bucks County Community College will bring CWD’s Manufacturing Pre-apprentice Training Programs to high school students throughout Bucks County. The registered pre-apprentice metalwork and industrial maintenance training programs are sponsored by JEVS Tri-State Apprenticeship Program (JTAP). The grant will fund four cohorts of eight students and will create a stronger pathway for youth to apprenticeship programs and provide a pipeline of skilled workers for regional manufacturers."

Jennifer Berrier, Secretary for the Department of Labor & Industry (L&I), said the state's economic future depends on developing and maintaining a well-educated and highly trained workforce, something that the grants will assist in making a reality.

"By investing in programs like Schools-to-Work, this administration continues to flex its creativity in how we support the commonwealth’s economy through the development and retention of skilled workers – with the ultimate goal of providing financial security and a better quality of life for the citizens of Pennsylvania," Berrier said. "These grant recipients are creating pathways between high school and apprenticeships in their industries, with a strong emphasis on equity and elimination of barriers to obtaining these jobs."

The programs will begin on July 1 and and run through December 31 of 2024.