Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber Of Commerce: The Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber Of Commerce Launches A New Workforce Develop, Project Piv ...

Press release from Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce:

February 08, 2022

Wilkes-Barre, PA: Our Chamber has taken a significant leap forward with the launch of Project PIVOT, a unique, collaborative program created and launched by Wilkes Barre Connect – the entrepreneurial and economic development arm of the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce – that aims to provide accelerated workforce training and upskill opportunities for workers in our region, aligning with the historic and seismic industry shifts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our organization has made it a priority to ensure the workforce needs of our businesses and our residents are met as we work to rebuild and strengthen our economy. Project Pivot allows for job seekers, those transitioning careers, and companies to find the resources they need in one place to accelerate their workforce training and upskill opportunities for workers in our area. We are grateful for the support of the U.S. Economic Development Administration, all of our legislators, and our partners who made this initiative possible. This innovative system allows for pathways to high demand careers to be aligned using national, state, and local resources, while also allowing all residents of Luzerne County to upskill themselves for elevated career opportunities. Following COVID-19, having a skilled workforce aligned to the needs of our economic landscape is critical to our next steps, as we all work together to build a bright and strong future,” said Lindsay Griffin, President & CEO of the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce and Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business & Industry.

Participants of this pilot program will gain FREE access to 17,000+ online LinkedIn Learning courses as a means of developing themselves professionally and upskilling in the careers and fields of their choice. This program is also designed to work directly with businesses in Luzerne County to provide their employees with the skills they need to grow within their companies. In addition to free LinkedIn Learning access for their staff, businesses who participate in the pilot program with their employees will have the opportunity to work directly with our Project PIVOT team and the team at LinkedIn Learning to develop a specially-tailored pathway that is specific to their company and employee needs. This will help them to take their current workforce to the next level in their skillset, and to address any educational gaps their team may be experiencing.

“As we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, job training is as important as ever. This grant from the Economic Development Administration, made possible by the CARES Act which I advocated for in 2020, will help prepare Northeastern Pennsylvanians to meet the challenge of rejoining the workforce. I was pleased to join the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce today to share this news and I will continue working to ensure that all Pennsylvanians have access to job training and job opportunity,” said Senator Casey.

“Congratulations to the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce and its partners in the launch of Project PIVOT,” said Rep. Matt Cartwright. “This initiative goes above and beyond our traditional workforce development offerings and offers free, remote access to valuable resources for job-seekers. Project PIVOT was made possible by a number of local partnerships along with funding from the CARES Act, which I was proud to fight for in Congress. I’m glad to see that funding be brought back to Northeastern Pennsylvania to serve our local workforce.”

“Project Pivot will be a critical workforce development tool that partners with operating businesses to help provide training for real jobs for those seeking work in Northeastern Pennsylvania. This project will reach nearly 10,000 displaced workers to provide them with training, while reducing the job placement expectancy from 12 months to just 90 days. I supported their application for a US EDA grant, and look forward to seeing the many people and businesses this project will help,” said Congressman Dan Meuser.

Besides the incredible benefit of gaining free access to the world’s largest professional network, Project PIVOT is also partnering with the PA CareerLink® and our Luzerne County academic institutions to offer a seamless continuum of services to users. For individuals, this includes hands-on classroom instruction, resume and cover letter writing, hot jobs notifications, mock interviews, and more. For businesses, this includes hiring, training, and retention services.

“The PA CareerLink® Luzerne County and the Luzerne/Schuylkill Workforce Development Board are excited to partner with the Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce on Project Pivot. The ability to offer access to LinkedIn Learning as well as training on SkillUp through the PA CareerLink® website provides local residents with the opportunity to increase their skills and abilities to better meet the needs of business. The PA CareerLink® stands ready to assist individuals with their job search and those already working with the tools necessary to gain that promotion through increased knowledge,” commented Christine Jensen, Administrator of the PA CareerLink® Luzerne County.

This press release was produced by Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed here are the author’s own.