Shapiro Administration highlights importance of workforce development
Governor Josh Shapiro's 2025-2026 budget proposal includes $12.5 million for the WEDnetPA program. It was created by the PA Department of Community and Economic Development 26 years ago.
The current funding is $8 million. The Shapiro Administration says the demand is at least double which is why they are asking for more in this budget proposal.
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'While this year will support almost 500 businesses with important WEDNET programing, there are currently 250 applications outstanding requesting additional funds,' said DCED Secretary Rick Siger.
The program provides funding to qualified employers like Rice Fruit Company in Adams County to train new and existing employees. The company received a WEDnetPA grant of up to $30,000.
'We're going to take meaningful steps towards empowering our workforce to develop skills in areas that have been long goals,' said Rice Fruit Company President Ben Rice.
The Rice family has been growing apples since the late 1700's. Ben Rice says he will also take part in training; he's excited to take a statistics class.
'That will bring technical knowledge to an area of our work that we hope will give us the skills to harness the data technology and the data tools that are coming out that are very exciting,' said Rice.
Often, government officials don't get the chance to see for themselves what programs like this one does for the company and its employees.
'You think of an apple company as sort of low tech, right? You're taking apple off a tree or putting in a box. It could not be further from the truth. They're incredible technology applications here, robotic applications. The people that are working with all this equipment need to have great training that takes that apple from the tree to your kitchen table in great shape with great taste,' said Siger.
Since WEDnetPA started, its provided training to more than 1.3 million employees at more than 23,000 companies.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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