Departments of Education, Labor & Industry Highlight New Options in Erie County to Help Pennsylvanians Return to Work

Erie, PA - Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Deputy Secretary for Workforce Development Sheila Ireland and Department of Education Acting Deputy Secretary and Commissioner for Postsecondary and Higher Education Dr. Tanya Garcia today toured the new Erie County Community College Regional Science Consortium at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center in Erie to discuss new educaiton and training opportunism that prepare Pennsylvanians to return to work with good jobs.

'Erie County Community College is bringing a new affordable option for Pennsylvanians in the northwest corner of our commonwealth to reskill,' said Deputy Secretary Ireland. 'Gov. Tom Wolf's Keystone Economic Development and Workforce Command Center identified job training as a key hurdle preventing Pennsylvanians from obtaining good jobs and keeping employers from finding the workers they need. The teaching and learning that will soon take place inside the Tom Ridge Environmental Center will help reduce this hurdle, allowing more Pennsylvanians to get the training they need to succeed in today's economy.'

The governor's Keystone Economic Development and Workforce Command Center, a strategic partnership of state, business, labor and economic development leaders, identified five barriers preventing people from working and employers from hiring qualified candidates: access to affordable childcare, job training, transportation to a workplace, burdensome occupational licensing requirements, and challenges for people re-entering the workforce from the criminal justice system.

Gov. Wolf has made strengthening Pennsylvania's workforce a priority. Since the governor took office, recurring funding for community colleges has increased by $33 million. The governor's PAsmart initiative, launched five years ago, also has invested approximately $100 million to expand job training through registered apprenticeships and industry partnerships and support STEM and computer science education in hundreds of schools across Pennsylvania.

'The Pennsylvania Department of Education is delighted to welcome Erie County Community College as the commonwealth's fifteenth community college,' said Deputy Secretary Garcia. 'Community colleges serve critical roles in talent development, and we are excited to expand both educational and economic opportunities in the northwestern part of the state.'

During the tour, the state officials saw laboratories that are part of four instructional sites for the Regional Science Center, which will provide greater opportunities for training in biology-related fields for residents of northwestern Pennsylvania. Erie County Community College, which became certified as Pennsylvania's 15th community college last year, will begin offering classes for the first time Sept. 1.

The mission of the Erie County Community College of PA is to prepare individuals to succeed in a diverse, supportive, forward thinking and innovative learning environment. The College will provide Erie residents affordable education through increased access to vital workforce and academic education options. These options include a combination of two-year degree programs, postsecondary certificates and technical courses that prepare graduates to meet the critical needs of this region's workforce and success in a complex global society. The College is an essential partner in meeting this region's higher education goals for continuous improvement in associate and baccalaureate degree attainment.

'I welcome our esteemed guests from the Departments of Education and Labor & Industry to Erie, Pennsylvania,' said Dr. Chris Gray, Founding President of Erie County Community College. 'Our community college opens new opportunities for education and workforce development in Erie County. We look forward to a productive discussion on these issues with our Commonwealth colleagues and our collaborations will lead to a brighter future for all.'

For more information about pursuing an education and career in Pennsylvania at any stage of life, visit PA CareerLink.

MEDIA CONTACT: Sarah DeSantis, [email protected]

Kendall Alexander, [email protected]

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