HARRISBURG — Department of Labor and Industry Secretary Jennifer Berrier recently announced grants totaling nearly $740,000 to local organizations committed to connecting Pennsylvania veterans to family support jobs.
The Wolf administration designed Veterans Employment Program grants to eliminate barriers to employment faced by veterans across the Commonwealth.
Pennsylvania is home to more than 700,000 veterans, or about 7.5% of the Commonwealth’s population. In March 2022, the Wolf administration announced an initial $800,000 tranche of VEP funding for four workforce development projects.
VEP provides veterans with a greater opportunity to sharpen and expand their skills, leading to meaningful employment after leaving the military,” said Maj. Gen. Mark Schindler, Adjutant General of Pennsylvania and Chief of the Department. military and veterans affairs. “We are grateful to the Wolf administration for recognizing the value that veterans bring to the workforce and for partnering with L&I and other entities that are willing to invest in life and the careers of men and women who have served and sacrificed for our nation.”
Successful applicants have identified opportunities for new and innovative projects to create employment opportunities for veterans, fill funding gaps, or complement existing initiatives for more comprehensive services. Employer applicants also had to demonstrate how they would bring together business, education, labor, community and other partners to secure employment supports for veterans.
NuPaths – $199,979
NuPaths will train 24 veterans living in Beaver, Free field, Delaware, Fayette, Lackawanna and Lycoming for Software Testing Analyst and Project Analyst jobs. Programs will be in an accessible distance learning format and provide technical skills training, industry certifications, and the job search and preparation skills needed to begin an apprenticeship or full-time employment in IT. .
Veterans Leadership Program – $200,000
The project aims to reduce the unemployment rate for veterans by providing certification and training opportunities in marketable job skills, connecting veterans with employers, and providing financial assistance for employment-related expenses. VLP will prioritize these services to Beaver, Fayette and Free field counties because these counties are among the top five counties in Pennsylvania with the highest veteran unemployment rates.
The run period for this grant is April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024 and is funded through re-employment and industry partnership funds.