Partner4Work awarded $260,000 grant to grow nursing career opportunities

State grant to support nurse apprenticeships, expand employer outreach

PITTSBURGH, Feb. 23 – Regional workforce development organization Partner4Work will receive a $260,000 grant through the state Department of Labor & Industry’s Nursing Pathway Apprenticeship Industry Partnership, members of the state House Allegheny County Democratic Delegation announced today.

Reflecting on the recent House Democratic Policy Committee hearing in McCandless addressing critical health care staffing issues, state Rep. Nick Pisciottano, the delegation chair, said the investment will play a significant role in filling the employment void hospitals and care providers have been facing since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“While this is an important investment from the state, it’s just a drop in the bucket,” said Pisciottano. “There is a colossal shortage of health care workers right now, and fixing this problem is going to require a more aggressive pursuit of policy reforms and funding initiatives at all levels.”

Through its Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board, P4W will use Nursing Pathway Apprenticeship Industry Partnership grant funding to establish health care partnerships, expand community outreach between employers and potential workers, and promote apprenticeship opportunities in the health care industry, specifically preparing individuals for careers as licensed professional nurses and certified nursing assistants.

The grant program is part of the COVID-19 Nursing Workforce Initiative and is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act. It blends the registered apprenticeship and industry partnership models and is designed to address the many workforce challenges in communities most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The award to P4W was one of three grants announced by L&I to support nursing industry employment efforts across the state.