PA Governor Rendell Announces $74 Million In Recovery Funds For Job Training, Youth Employment

April 20, 2009 -- HARRISBURG – Unemployed workers and youth seeking summer jobs will get a boost from approximately $74 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or ARRA, Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell said today.

“As Pennsylvanians continue to feel the effects of the national economy, it is imperative that we expand job retraining opportunities for unemployed workers and young people,” Governor Rendell said. “Nearly 500,000 Pennsylvanians were unemployed and looking for work in March. They need the workforce development services that these funds will provide.”

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The funds, which are awarded to local workforce investment areas, will provide job training and education services for unemployed workers and young people between 14 and 24 seeking summer employment.

Unemployed Pennsylvanians can access job retraining funds through their local PA CareerLink office where professional staff will determine eligibility and provide career assessment and coaching. Find the nearest PA CareerLink office online at www.pacareerlink.state.pa.us, or by phone at 1-866-858-2753.

Federal guidance for ARRA job training funds also helps expand summer youth employment by providing wage support for at-risk youth. Information on youth employment opportunities is available through local Workforce Investment Boards online at: www.paworkforce.state.pa.us under “Recovery Act Workforce Information & Initiatives,” or by phone at 1-866-858-2753.

“Far fewer summer employment opportunities exist for young people during economic downturns,” Governor Rendell said. “These funds will not only provide expanded summer employment opportunities for young Pennsylvanians who often contribute to their families’ budgets, but also provide valuable work experience, which leads to better scholastic outcomes and increased lifetime career earnings.”

The formula for distribution of the funds is determined by the federal government and includes, among other factors, population, unemployment rate and number of families under the poverty rate.

The first installment of $30 million is available to local workforce investment areas today. The remaining $44 million in ARRA workforce funds will be distributed when additional spending authority is approved by the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

“We need to provide retraining to unemployed Pennsylvanians so that they can reenter the workforce and be prepared for higher skilled, higher wage jobs,” said Department of Labor & Industry acting Secretary Sandi Vito. “Strategic job training and education will help us recover from the current economic crisis, but also ensure that Pennsylvania comes through these trying times stronger and better prepared than ever to excel in the global economy.”

Source: Pennsylvania Governor