HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania Governor Mark Schweiker has announced funding for 12 Critical Job Training Grants (CJTG) to provide training and education for high-demand jobs. Two of the grants include training for hvacr careers.

“These funds will help more than 800 Pennsylvanians receive specialized job training to equip them with the skills they need to obtain jobs that are available right now," Schweiker said. "These grants cut red tape and speed the delivery of needed funds to the workers who need them."

CJTGs are a simplified and targeted tool for boosting workforce development in Pennsylvania by encouraging eligible organizations needing skilled workers to apply via a single application for funding on the Internet.

Eligible applicants include school districts, intermediate units, vocational-technical schools, postsecondary institutions, local workforce-investment boards, businesses, and public agencies that provide workforce services and activities. The application for CJTGs is available on the Department of Community and Economic Development's website at www.inventpa.com.

The hvacr-related grants include the following:

  • Lehigh Carbon Community College and the Independent Quality Alliance (IQA) will jointly receive $35,000 to train 24 workers in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning skills. The IQA is a group of 14 regional service companies providing training for heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical, and related contracting industries.

  • The Worksmith Institute, Pittsburgh, will receive $500,000 to train dislocated workers in varying locations in the state in carpentry and construction; welding and fabrication technology; hvacr; electrical maintenance; mechanical computer-aided drafting and design; and architectural computer-aided drafting and design.

    Publication date: 05/13/2002