In what is truly one of the greatest success stories in Team Pennsylvania Foundation’s history, more than 70,000 people have received job training because of the Industry Partnership program.

Seeded with an initial matching grant of $250,000 in 2004 and another grant for the same amount in ’05, the program was initially designed to connect workers with jobs that are in demand in seven industry sectors across the commonwealth.

“Businesses come together, augment available data, and that data tells us not only what their current hiring needs are, but what their future hiring needs will be,” said Sandi Vito, Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. “It (the data) also ensures that the training itself is not only in the occupations that are in demand, but actually hones in on the training so it meets the actual needs that industry demands.”

Labor and Industry Secretary Sandi Vito’s comments came during a conference call about the Industry Partnerships program with Team Pennsylvania board members and investors. The discussion was the first in a series of such calls with various Rendell administration officials whose departments are Foundation partners.

Vito said the program has blossomed and includes nearly 8,000 businesses from 20 different sectors. Moreover, many of the partnerships have grown past the initial goal to address workforce needs, Vito added. Read an overview of the Industry Partnership program here.

“The other piece that has developed over time is that the partnerships focus on advanced topics such as research and development, innovation and, Centers for Excellence,” Vito said. “They have really moved beyond the immediate workforce needs to look down the line at such things as retirement and their future technological needs as well,” Vito said.

Following the initial seed grants that were provided by Team PA, the program was funded with a $20 million appropriation for training and capacity building for the partnerships. That funding, however, has been cut in recent years as discretionary spending in the state budget has been reduced.

“We have been able to backfill it with some federal dollars, but we are moving toward getting legislation passed that would embed this as a strategy because it is helpful to businesses,” Vito said. “If we are going to put money into training, then they (businesses) want us to train people so they can take the jobs they have and it is helpful for individuals who are put on career pathways to better paying jobs.”

While Team PA does not lobby due to its 501(c) 3 status, Vito encouraged Foundation board members, as business owners, to contact their legislators in support of Industry Partnership legislation. Senate Bill 1409, which was introduced by Sen. Mike Brubaker of Lancaster, amends the Workforce Development Act to, among other things, establish a unified workforce investment system. Read the Senate bill here.

A companion bill, HB 2230, sponsored by Rep. Marc Gergely of Allegheny County, has already passed the State House. A story on that legislation is located here.

Vito concluded the conference call by fielding questions from Foundation board members and investors. During the Q & A session, Vito had high praise for Team Pennsylvania for funding a program that has made a real difference in the lives of so many Pennsylvanians.

“Team PA was one of the early, early supporters,” Vito said. “It is fascinating. We get asked all over the country to talk about what we did in our system so folks can emulate it. We would really like this to continue and we really believe very strongly that the right place to help it to continue is Team Pennsylvania Foundation.”