Burns: $150,000 state grant awarded to regional workforce development program

Program aims to connect industry, training and students

EBENSBURG, Dec. 17 – Tireless in his efforts to bring good-paying jobs and economic development to the region, state Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, today announced a $150,000 state grant to help fund a workforce development program in Cambria and Somerset counties.

“Job training is a crucial element in economic development and this program is another key step in getting the trained workforce we’ll need for the economic opportunities of the future,” Burns said. “Helping students land hands-on work experience is exactly what Cambria County needs to continue building our region back to what it once was.”

The grant awarded Friday to the JARI All Industries Partnership will help fund worker training, a health and safety conference, a youth conference, an annual job fair, co-op stipends for high school students, and industry tours for students and educators.

Since taking office Burns has made economic and workforce development a priority for his office, not only securing state and federal funding for local programs and industries, but also working at the state level to bring opportunities to the region like a Keystone Opportunity Zone designation in 2018.

The lawmaker has also met with large corporations like Amazon to tout Cambria County as a place to grow businesses and has worked across party lines to promote the region in his role as the co-chair of the state House Steel Caucus.