Guaranteed Free Training Training Pennsylvania’s workers for a growing economy

1. Guaranteed Free Training Training Pennsylvania’s workers for a growing economy

2. Goal of WEDnetPA Provide a training system that is responsive to the business community’s basic training and work readiness requirements in order to improve employees’ productivity Offer Two Training Grant Programs: Basic Skills Training and Information Technology Training

3. WEDnetPA33 Partners Across PA 12 31 21 24 20 26 6 19 30 11 3 1 8 15 25 13 18 7 16 14 27 28 23 29 33 2 22 17 4 9 32 10 5 14 State System Universities 14 Pennsylvania Community Colleges Pennsylvania College of Technology, University of Pittsburgh-Bradford North Central Industrial Technical Education Center Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center Lancaster Area Career & Technology Center

4. Philosophy of WEDnetPA Guaranteed Free Training Program • Flexible • User Friendly • Audit Proof Common Sense

5. GFT Training Program Basic Skills Training Basic & Entry Level Skills Information Technology Training Higher Level Technology Skills

6. Important Concepts of the Program Guaranteed Free Training Business Decides Training Business Decides Training Provider Training is Guaranteed

7. Flow of Eligibility • By Type of Business • Employer Requirements • Employee Requirements

8. Eligibility – Type of Business Basic Skills: • Manufacturing • Technology Based (Flexible definition of Tech-based) Includes Bio-Tech & Environmental-Tech Companies Information Technology: • Program is not limited to specific economic clusters Point of Sales Retail businesses, government, education, and non-profit entities are not eligible

9. Eligibility Guidelines Employer Must: • Be Pennsylvania based • Only front-line employees or first level supervisors in manufacturing or technology-based companies for the Basic Skills grant • Are technical and professional information technology, some exceptions for small businesses (100 employees or less) where non-technology professionals have IT responsibilities OR front-line employees and first level supervisors of manufacturing companies receiving applied manufacturing technology training for the Information Technology grant

10. Eligibility Guidelines Employer Must Verify Participating Employees: • Earn at least 150% of current minimum wage, excluding benefits • Work full-time • Are Pennsylvania residents and work in PA

11. Additional Requirements • A Company may receive up to $75,000 per fiscal year of Basic Skills funding • A Company may receive up to $50,000 per fiscal year of Information Technology funding • Limited to participation in the program to two consecutive years and three within five years (including CJT’s) • Training must begin within 5 months of approval letter or grant will be forfeited

12. Reimbursement Basic Skills: $450 Per Employee per fiscal year Information Technology: $700 Per Employee per fiscal year If the cost of providing the training exceeds $450 or $700 per trainee limit under the Grant, the employer will cover those costs

13. Basic and Entry-Level Work Skills Basic Skills Eligible Training Training will be defined according to the type and scope of business being conducted by the employer

14. Improve the skill level of Information Technology Professionals and technical workers or advanced applied manufacturing skills only for front-line manufacturing workers and first level supervisors IT Eligible Training Training will meet recognized industry skill standards, including but not limited to, training resulting in certification

15. GFT Application Process • Application • Statement of Eligibility MOA • Third-Party Subcontractor MOA (if applicable) Initial Application Period May 1 – July 15

16. Workforce Development Training employees Linking training plans to business goals Companies becoming learning organizations

17. WEDnetPA Information www.wednetpa.net wednetpa@pct.edu sspry@luzerne.edu