Shapiro Administration Invests $2.8M in Industry Partnerships

Shapiro Administration Invests $2.8 Million in Industry Partnerships to Build a Stronger, More Resilient Workforce

The Industry Partnership program brings together business, education, workforce development, economic development, organized labor, and community partners to strengthen the competitiveness of key industries and regional economies.

With Pennsylvania serving as a national leader in this workforce development strategy, Governor Josh Shapiro is calling for a $3.5 million increase in Industry Partnership funding in his 2026-27 budget plan .

April 13, 2026
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Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) today announced a $2.8 million investment in Industry Partnership grants to ten organizations to further strengthen Pennsylvania’s workforce and economy. The Industry Partnership program connects regional business leaders within a shared industry with public partners to address workforce challenges and enhance industry competitiveness.

“Industry Partnerships work because they are driven by employers and grounded in the needs of local communities, connecting workers to good jobs, helping businesses grow, and strengthening our regional economies,” said L&I Secretary Nancy A. Walker. “As we’ve seen the program’s impact grow across the Commonwealth, it’s clear that continued investment in Industry Partnerships will allow us to expand this important work and ensure that more communities have a stronger, more resilient workforce.”

Governor Shapiro recognizes the value of this program which is why his 2026-27 budget proposal calls for a $3.5 million increase in Industry Partnership funding, bringing the total investment to $6.3 million. Workforce development remains a cornerstone of the Governor’s agenda, and his budget plan builds on three years of historic investments by:

• Increasing state funding for the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) by $1 million to help Pennsylvanians with disabilities find and keep employment;
• Investing an additional $18 million in career and technical education (CTE), vo-tech programs, and apprenticeships; and
• Providing $7 million for Schools-to-Work programs to better connect classroom learning with real-world opportunities and align training with in-demand jobs across the Commonwealth. Thanks to the work being done through Industry Partnership initiatives, employers in key sectors like health care, manufacturing, construction, and beyond can build talent pipelines, improve retention, and address barriers to growth, while creating meaningful opportunities for Pennsylvania workers, students, and communities.

The following organizations were awarded Industry Partnership grants:

Chester County Workforce Development Board (Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia counties – $350,000)

Health Care Connect will continue to build on existing initiatives in strengthening pathways that inspire interest in healthcare careers and equip participants with the critical skills necessary for clinical practice. The three pillars of partnership activities will focus on next generation engagement, professional development and leadership training, and succession planning and organizational stability.

Workforce Board Lehigh Valley (Lehigh, Northampton counties – $200,000)

Healthcare is Hot! A Regional Workforce Strategy will support the healthcare industry while meeting the workforce needs of businesses and workers. It will accomplish its goals through developing and implementing career pathways, creating a shared retention toolkit for employers, facilitating industry-wide mentoring to support supervisors, and promoting healthcare careers.

University City District (Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia – $349,600)

The Keystone LifeSci Collaborative will implement activities that strengthen employer competitiveness, expand equitable talent pipelines and retain skilled workers by aligning infrastructure, early awareness, and career transition support. The partnership will establish a regional talent hub platform, develop industry professionals to represent the industry, and provide support to retain and re-engage displaced life science professionals.

Workforce Solutions for North Central PA (Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson, McKean, Potter counties – $200,000)

The North Central PA Manufacturing Industry Partnership will positively impact the manufacturing workforce through funding internships opportunities and training for new and incumbent workers. The partnership will also increase the visibility of regional employers and strengthen school-to-work connections through career awareness and education alignment.

Southwest Corner Workforce Development Board (Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, Washington, Westmoreland – $300,000)

The Pennsylvania Steel Alliance plans to align steel manufacturers, labor organizations, training providers, and workforce stakeholders around a coordinated, industry-driven workforce development strategy. It will support industry and workers through upskilling and reskilling the existing steel workforce, expand access to innovative training models, strengthen the talent pipeline through youth and career pathway development, and support industry adaptation to emerging economic opportunities.

Elevate 215 (Philadelphia County – $200,000)

The Philadelphia Citywide Talent Coalition – Education Industry Partnership will coordinate the collective work of its coalition partners to coordinate activities designed to meet the needs of employers seeking certified, well-prepared teachers, while supporting workers with accessible pathways with opportunity for advancement. The activities will focus on deepening the TeachPHL website’s content and tools, activating and segmenting the Aspiring Teachers Database, and aligning citywide recruitment in education with navigation assistance based on employer needs.

Chester County Workforce Development Board (Berks, Bucks, Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, Schuylkill, York counties – $350,000)

The Smart Energy Initiative of Southeastern PA will help companies navigate new energy laws and “site-ready” requirements, address energy distribution challenges affecting business operations, and prepare for emerging opportunities in micro-nuclear, geothermal, and other high-growth clean-energy sectors. The actions will directly help employers, job seekers, and aligns supports to strengthen Pennsylvania’s energy sector.

The Manufacturers’ Association (Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, York counties – $350,000)

The South Central Manufacturing Industry Partnership will promote manufacturing careers to build a strong pipeline of motivated, qualified, and diverse individuals while also facilitating education and adoption of robotics and AI tools to support the regional manufacturing base. It will also improve training and career advancement opportunities while facilitating best practice peer learning and strengthen supply chain collaboration in South Central Pennsylvania.

Southwest Corner Workforce Development Board (Beaver, Fayette, Greene, Washington, Westmoreland counties – $350,000)

The Southwest Corner Building and Construction Industry Partnership will focus on training incumbent workers, particularly upskilling workers through registered apprenticeship programs. It will also focus on the recruitment of new employees and diversifying the workforce by engaging with individuals in populations that are underrepresented in the construction trades. By funding these activities, the partnership hopes to increase the number of qualified workers employers are seeking in this sector.

Tri-County Workforce Investment Board, Inc. (Armstrong, Butler, Indiana – $160,000)

The Tri-County Health Care Industry Partnership will focus on improving employee retention at partnership companies, promoting the healthcare career pathway, recruiting new employees to the industry, and providing training for all levels of employees. These activities will provide pathway opportunities for employees, fill staffing needs of employers, and meet the skill needs of employers for better care, while promoting the industry.

For more information on the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, please visit the website or follow L&I on Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.

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