L&I Announces $4 Million Available for Communities to Address Employment Barriers for Pennsylvanians

Harrisburg, PA – As part of Governor Tom Wolf’s ongoing commitment to make Pennsylvania’s workforce the strongest in the nation, Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Secretary Jerry Oleksiak today announced the availability of up to $4 million in Strategic Innovation Grants to help communities creatively address the barriers that Pennsylvanians experience for employment.

“Strategic Innovation Grant funding helps fuel creative solutions by Pennsylvania communities to address their barriers to employment,” added Secretary Oleksiak. “While there are existing programs that work with people facing employment barriers, this funding is unique in that it specifically provides resources for new concepts or to build on existing programs.”

The Strategic Innovation Grants of up to $300,000 each will address common employment barriers including:

• Poverty and low income;
• Disability;
• Language and cultural barriers;
• Basic skills deficiency and low literacy;
• Homelessness and housing insecurity;
• Substance use disorder;
• Mental health challenges;
• Transitioning off public assistance;
• Age; and
• Transitioning out of the military.

Eligible applicants include local workforce development boards, non-profit and non-governmental entities, community-based organizations, education and post-secondary organizations, labor organizations, business associations, and economic development entities.

In 2018, nearly $3.5 million in Strategic Innovation Grant funds: served 62 pre-apprentices; 337 incarcerated and previously incarcerated individuals in overcoming barriers, developing work experience, and skills training; 4,679 individuals in career fairs, skills training, job placement and addressing employment barriers; and 360 employers.

The deadline to apply is March 27, 2020. L&I expects to announce the Strategic Innovation Grant awards in May 2020. Grant materials, requirements and other related information is available on L&I’s website.

“Despite Pennsylvania’s strong economy and historically high employment, not all Pennsylvanians are sharing in this prosperity,” said Secretary Oleksiak. “Governor Wolf knows the importance of identifying and removing obstacles that prevent workers from getting good jobs and businesses from finding more skilled employees. Breaking down employment barriers is good for workers, employers, and our economy, and is one of the main reasons the governor created the Keystone Economic Development and Workforce Command Center.”

Governor Wolf’s budget proposes a new $14 million investment in his Keystone Economic Development and Workforce Command Center, a strategic partnership of state, business, labor and economic development leaders. The command center recently released its first report that included 42 recommendations for action by the governor, legislature, and private sector.