Bucks Co. Gets $200,000 For Job Training Programs

HARRISBURG, PA — A new, $200,000 in state spending will go toward expanding job training opportunities in Bucks County.

On Tuesday, Gov. Tom Wolf announced the funding for Bucks County Community College's apprenticeship programs.

"This funding will enable Bucks County Community College to offer fully-encompassed training to individuals looking for good-paying jobs," Wolf said in a news release. "By supporting apprenticeship programs, we’re strengthening Pennsylvania’s workforce and helping manufacturing companies secure fully-trained, long-term workers."

The money will go toward an awareness campaign for the college's metalwork pre-apprenticeship training program and other pre-apprenticeship training at BCCC. The college will run a campaign to promote the free, 12-week programs, which provide skills for job-seekers.

The training also includes "soft skills" training, job shadowing opportunities and individualized job placement help with manufacturing employers who partner with the program.

Once they've finished the metalwork program, apprentices will have finished 288 hours of training and received various certifications that will help them land jobs in the field.

"We are thrilled to receive this funding and we are thankful to Gov. Wolf and the Department of Community and Economic Development for committing resources to the workforce needs in our community," said Susan Herring, executive director of the Center for Workforce Development at Bucks County Community College.

"The Training to Career Grant will allow us to make students, parents and job seekers aware of these free training programs which provide life-changing opportunities and high-paying careers in manufacturing."

Apprenticeships have been identified as a key component of Wolf's PAsmart initiative, which aims to improve coordination between state agencies otherwise expand job training.

The initiative was launched in Octobe 2017 and, since then, has funded 35 projects and invested more than $9 million through the Training-To-Career program.

For more information on the program, you may visit the Department of Community and Economic Development website.