Workforce Facilitation Assistance
The Economic Growth Connection's Workforce Facilitation Assistance service provides a resource for manufacturers to help determine their employee training needs, identify qualified training providors and provide partial funding assistance for training implementation.

For more information on Workforce Facilitation Assistance contact
Donna Bates Director, Defense Procurement Assistance Center
at 724-830-3604.

Team PA Business Calling Program
The Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corporation (WCIDC) is responsible for administrating the Team PA Business Calling Program. Recently, the WCIDC has partnered with the Economic Growth Connection to expand the Business Calling Program to reach as many businesses as possible.

The Program's objective, as well as the County's objective, is to maintain continuous discussion with our businesses to identify needs, interest and problems so that we may help promote policy and budgeting at the state level, as well as provide necessary support at the local level.

For more information on the Team PA Business Calling Program or to arrange a appointment contact Bob Augustino, Director of Workforce Facilitation at 724-830-3604.

Manufacturing Pathways Initiative
This program was designed to address two regional manufacturing concerns: the need to improve the basic skills of applicants and the need to expand the pipeline of young people choosing a manufacturing career. High school students are exposed to careers involved in manufacturing - such as accounting, human resources, production, quality, logistics, machining, engineering, safety, etc. - through a six-week paid summer internship program at participating Westmoreland County manufacturers. The program prepares students to enter careers in the manufacturing industry directly upon graduation from high school or to enter post-secondary education and training programs in manufacturing.

For more information on the program and how manufacturers can participate contact Bob Augustino, Director of Workforce Facilitation.

This pilot program is being funded in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Labor, Education and Training Administration. This funding was made possible with the support of Congressman John Murtha.

Training Incentives
There are various state training incentives available. Eligiblity and eligibile uses vary with each program. These programs include:

Program Customized Job Training (CJT)

Eligibility Manufacturing Industrial Agricultural enterprises Research and development Advanced Technology Business service firms (no point of sale/retail)

Eligible Uses Instructional costs Supplies Consumable materials Contracted services Relevant travel costs for local education agency project coordinators

Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA)

Private and public sector employers

Job training Classroom training Training/related and supportive services

Workforce & Economic Development Network (WEDnetPA)

Employer is a manufacturer or technology based business Employer is based in PA Trainees earn 150% of minimum wage and are employed full time.

Communication and teamwork Applied mathematics and measurements Quality assurance Manufacturing fundamentals Other entry level work skills

For more information on Training Incentives contact Bob Augustino, Director of Workforce Facilitation. Team PA Career Link
Team Pennsylvania CareerLink is a cooperative effort to provide one-stop delivery of career services to job seekers, employers and other Interested Individuals. These services are also available in your local Pennsylvania CareerLink office or participating agency.

Information on Career Link Employer Services including: registration, on-line mass recruitments, careerlinked employers, job order services, business resource area, labor market information can be found at: http://www.pacareerlink.state.pa.us

The WCIDC web site also identifies CareerLink Core Services for employers and job seekers and can be found at: http://www.westmorelandcountyidc.org/careerlink Westmoreland Fayette Workforce Investment Board
The mission of the Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board is to lead workforce development activities in the area's communities in order to help individuals attain the skills necessary for viable employment and to help employers become competitive in the global economy.

The Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board has defined its mission to be to lead the workforce development activities in the area's communities in order to help individuals attain the skills necessary for variable employment and to help employers become competitive in the global economy.

Information on the Board, the Workforce Investment Act, mission statement, progress, investment area statistics and staff can be found at: http://www.westfaywib.org