Pennsylvania Industry Partnership Grant

Pennsylvania is seeking industry partnerships that improve economic prosperity, increase job quality, and prepare the commonwealth’s workforce for the jobs of today and tomorrow. The Industry Partnership program requires businesses within a targeted sector partnering to strengthen their industry through training initiatives, recruitment strategies, raising career awareness, and working together to address additional challenges identified by the businesses. This includes supporting statewide initiatives in specific industry sectors like agriculture, information technology, robotics, and reshoring manufacturing operations. The state also challenges Industry Partnership members to expand their employee base to include marginalized populations with barriers. This year, as an optional section for bonus points, Pennsylvania will also evaluate applicants’ ability to demonstrate how partnership activities will increase workers access and attainment of quality jobs through their proposals. 

This Notice of Grant Availability (NGA) seeks applications to support Industry Partnership initiatives across PA that:

• Work to identify workforce, education & training, and economic development needs
• Coordinate regional teams to support industry needs
• Identify public and community resources to address industry identified needs
• Increase collaboration among businesses within a targeted industry sector

The goal of this grant opportunity is to increase regional collaboration to support business needs within an industry sector. Applicants must create a clear plan to evaluate the effectiveness of their proposed strategies to address business identified priorities.

Overall goals of the Industry Partnership program are:

1. Eliminate silos by aligning local, regional, and state education, workforce and economic development initiatives, including state and regional Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act plans
2. Increase learning and economic opportunities for all Pennsylvania residents (i.e. students, youth and workers) particularly those from underrepresented, under resourced, and underserved communities
3. Increase connections, collaboration, and communication between businesses of priority PA industries
4. Explore and implement new approaches taking advantage of opportunities and industry specific solutions
5. Grow targeted industry sectors who could benefit from sector strategies approaches; include businesses that have traditionally been left out of these initiatives, including, but not limited to, small businesses, and minority- and women-owned businesses
6. Identify, develop, and act upon solutions supported by relevant data and information
7. Create a long-lasting partnership and make best use of available funds/resources
8. Create and implement a strong evaluation plan that meets partnership performance metrics following the PA Workforce Development Board’s adopted evidence of effectiveness definition
   

Allowable Costs and Expenses can be found at https://www.dli.pa.gov/Businesses/Workforce-Development/grants/Documents/Industry-Partnerships/Industry-Partnership-NGA.pdf#page=9.

Estimated Total Program Funding: