WEDnetPA Marks 10-Year Milestone with Capitol Event…

On April 28, 2009, the Workforce and Economic Development Network of Pennsylvania (WEDnetPA) recognized its 10th year of providing Guaranteed Free Training to Pennsylvania companies by holding a press conference, poster session and legislative meetings at the state Capitol Building in Harrisburg.

“Pennsylvania is committed to providing businesses with the necessary tools they need to be strong and successful,” Department of Community and Economic Development acting Secretary George Cornelius said at the Capitol Rotunda celebration. “This investment is providing businesses with an educated, highly skilled workforce, and it further encourages job growth and business expansion.“ -Partners & Company Representatives on Capitol Rotunda Steps

Guaranteed Free Training is funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development through its Customized Job Training program, which was created to provide employers with opportunities for employee training in: manufacturing fundamentals; product and process control; quality assurance; applied math and measurement; information technology; and many other areas.

Since its inception, more than 800,000 workers at nearly 14,000 companies have been trained in the guaranteed free training program.

-Tom Venditti, Statewide Director “The training provided through WEDnetPA helps Pennsylvania companies stay competitive nationally and internationally by providing training they otherwise might not be able to afford,” said WEDnetPA Statewide Director Tom Venditti. “We help provide a well-trained workforce so individual companies can survive, thrive, and grow in the commonwealth.“

The Capitol event featured remarks by Cornelius, Venditti, Senator John Gordner and Representative Peter Daley. Representatives from 30 companies that have been participants in the Guaranteed Free Training program also attended.

-Representative Garth Everett; Seth Albert, Ralph S. Alberts Company; Larry Michael, Pennsylvania College of Technology Throughout the day, these companies and their WEDnetPA partners met with legislators to talk about the positive impact GFT has made on their businesses, their employees and their communities. A total of 65 meetings were held with 54 legislators. An afternoon poster session rounded out the day’s events, highlighting the companies and their individual GFT successes.

“In order to bid for and subcontract for many government projects, Electro Soft Inc. needed to have a high-level hand-soldering certification,” said James T. Wallace, Electro Soft’s president. “WEDnetPA provided funding and a reliable source for training. Over the past two years, Electro Soft has been approved for — and has received — numerous subcontracts because of this certification. Without WEDnetPA, much of this training would have been cost prohibitive.“

Venditti noted some additional intriguing facts about WEDnetPA and the Guaranteed Free Training program:

• Employers have the option to choose any private-sector training provider, any of the 33 WEDnetPA partners, or the company’s own in-house staff to address their workforce training needs.
• 91% of the program’s funds go directly to company training.
• More than 7,500 private sector vendors have provided training through the program.
• For every $1 the state invests in GFT, companies invest an additional $4 in cash and in-kind match.
• Companies experience a 96% employee retention rate one year after the training among those employees who receive training.
• Employees increase their wages an average of 7.4% within the first year of receiving training.
• 92% of the training was delivered to businesses in the targeted industry clusters identified by the state.
• 98% of companies receiving GFT-funded training indicate positive outcomes, including improved product/service quality; a safer workplace with fewer accidents; new customers and increased business; improved communications and teamwork; and increases in employee pay and compensation.