Pennsylvania News

HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Governor Edward G. Rendell
today announced the commonwealth’s application for a $6 million U.S.
Department of Labor State Energy Sector Partnership and Training Grant through
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, that would help strengthen
Pennsylvania’s energy sector industry partnerships and provide advanced
training to more than 1,300 individuals.

Ed Rendell Announce Application

“We’ve made great improvements in the way Pennsylvania works with students,
schools, job seekers, workers and businesses to ensure education and training
are in line with employers’ needs,” Governor Rendell said. “These efforts and
our investments have helped Pennsylvania fare better than much of the nation
during this recession. By making the same and similar investments in the
energy sector and green jobs, we will be able harness these dynamic industries
as we continue our economic recovery.”

If awarded, the Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board, or PA WIB, will use
the grant to strengthen existing – and create new – regional green industry
partnerships that bring together green businesses with overlapping skill
needs. The partnerships will identify job opportunities, skill gaps and
training needs; design workforce services to meet these needs; oversee
selection of vendors; and monitor and report outcomes.

Additionally, the grant will help establish a Pennsylvania Center for Green
Careers, modeled after the PA Center for Health Careers. The new Center for
Green Careers will be a part of the PA WIB, and will conduct a program of
stakeholder engagement, labor market research, workforce policy development
and consensus building.

For more information about how the commonwealth is using federal Recovery Act
funds to help Pennsylvania residents and businesses, visit:
www.recovery.pa.gov.

Media Contacts:
Christopher S. Manlove, L&I; 717-787-7530
Barry Ciccocioppo, Governor’s Office; 717-783-1116

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor

Christopher S. Manlove, L&I, +1-717-787-7530; Barry Ciccocioppo, Governor’s
Office, +1-717-783-1116

Wednesday starts the fourth week without a budget in Pennsylvania. Legislators and the governor are still battling it out in Harrisburg.

Tens of thousands of state workers are growing more anxious entering another week with little or no pay.

The lifeguards are still up on their stands at the state parks. State crews are still out mowing lawns and doing other jobs. State employees are still filing into their offices but tens of thousands of the workers across Pennsylvania are getting little or no pay.

“Well, how would you like to come to work without a paycheck?” asked state worker Chris Yukenavage. She came out of her office in downtown Wilkes-Barre to show off the t-shirt she displays at her desk.

Workers there can’t believe the state budget is now more than three weeks late.

Pennsylvania Budget Meeting Stalls