WEDnetPA -Workforce Training Grants Available for 2008-2009

East Stroudsburg University's Center for Research and Economic Development (CFRED) is accepting applications for 2008-2009 Employee-Training Grants from the Workforce and Economic Development Network of Pennsylvania (WEDnetPA). Funding for WEDnetPA is provided by the PA Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).

The WEDnetPA Program provides qualified companies with funds for training their employees in Basic Skills up to $450 per eligible employee and in Information Technology up to $850 per eligible employee. Companies may qualify for a total of $75,000 for basic skills and $50,000 for IT training. Funding is available primarily to manufacturing and technology-based industries including financial, healthcare, biotech and environmental-tech companies. Companies not eligible for funding include point-of-sale retailers, training vendors, government, education and non-profit organizations (except for healthcare institutions and agencies).

CFRED will be accepting applications for WEDnetPA funding through July 7, 2008. Grants will be awarded at the end of August for fiscal year July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009. During the 2007-2008 fiscal year, ESU received over $622,500 in WEDnetPA funding that supported over 36 companies with training grants.

WEDnetPA's mission is to build and strengthen employee productivity in Pennsylvania's workforce by supporting training that will put employees on a path to higher performance.

Through WEDnetPA, companies can take advantage of Guaranteed Free Training, a funding program designed to leverage a firm's training dollar, improve employee productivity and strengthen its competitiveness in the marketplace. Companies identify their own training needs, which may involve skills that are general to the workplace or specific to their industry. Companies also choose their own training providers: on-line courseware or traditional classroom instruction, conducted by either in-house staff or third-party trainers.

Training may include but is not limited to:

Basic Skills

• Communication and Teamwork
• Business Operations
• Computer Training
• Manufacturing Fundamentals including blueprint reading, welding, soldering, tooling, grinding, machine set-up and maintenance
• HIPAA
• Quality Assurance
• Applied Math and Measurement
• Product and Process Control
• Workplace Behavior Skills
• Workplace Health and Safety

Information Technology

• Computer Programming
• Database Development
• Information Security
• Management Information Systems
• Network Administration
• Software Administration
• Systems Analysts
• Technology Support
• Website Design & Support
• Advanced Applied Manufacturing Technology

ESU is one of the 33 WEDnetPA partners authorized to apply for funding on a company's behalf. Information is available on-line at www.wednetpa.com. For further details or to apply for a WEDnetPA grant, contact Miguel Barbosa, director of workforce development, at 570-422-7920.