WEDnetPA
Bringing training funds to qualified companies across the Commonwealth.
WHAT WEDNETPA CAN OFFER OUR CLIENTS
Since its inception in 1999, more than 17,000 companies and 1,000,000 employees across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania have utilized The Workforce and Economic Development Network of Pennsylvania (WEDnetPA). WEDnetPA brings training funds to qualified companies across the Commonwealth through a network of community colleges, state system universities, and other educational institutions. WEDnetPA strives to strengthen the business environment of the Commonwealth by helping companies improve the skills and productivity of Pennsylvania workers. Funding for this program is provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) through its Pennsylvania First Fund.
The Kutztown University Small Business Development Center is one of more than two dozen WEDnetPA partners. It serves as a local point of contact to assist your company in determining your eligibility, completing an application, and submitting invoices for reimbursement.
To offer greater simplicity, we cut the amount of paperwork in half. Now, there is only one application, one training plan and one contract to focus on. We also consolidated the funding to streamline the application process. There is now only one single funding source, “Job Skills Training”— so companies will no longer face the confusion that stemmed from having to choose between “Essential Skills Training” and “Technical Skills Training.”
WEDnetPA Process:
The new WEDnetPA process now requires only ONE application, ONE training plan and ONE contract. For more information, please review the Program Overview.
Is my company eligible?
- Must be located in Pennsylvania.
- Must be in an eligible industry and commercial/industrial in nature.
- Cannot be limited or explicitly defined as ineligible.
- Cannot receive funding more than two years in a row or three years out of a five-year period.
- Companies with an employee turnover rate of 25% or more may not be eligible.
Are my employees eligible?
- Must be a resident of and employed in Pennsylvania.
- Must earn at least $12.00 per hour, excluding benefits.
- Must be permanently employed full-time and eligible for full-time benefits.
- Must be an employee of the specific company location for which a contract is awarded.
Is my training eligible?
- Must be skill building for current job, advancement or promotion.
- Must start and be completed within the fiscal year (July 1 through June 30) for which the funds are awarded. Partial training cannot be reimbursed.
- Training costs must be “reasonable” as defined by market rates and other criteria.
- Each training session must be a minimum of 30 minutes in length.
- Company orientation and on-the-job training are NOT eligible.
Workforce Development Grants to Train Your Employees:Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED)
WedNet PA funding is used to reimburse a wide range of employee training. Pennsylvania employers in manufacturing or technology businesses, including biotech & environmental companies, are eligible for workforce job training grants through WedNetPA.
wednetpa.com Awards of up to $2000 per employee will be granted annually.
**The primary requirement for the grants is that the training must be a job-skill building for the employee, with a maximum of $100,000 per eligible company will be granted annually.
CONTACT US
Please contact your Kutztown University WEDnet Partner for more information.
Angela Hensley
WEDnet PA Grant Program Partner
Email: hensley@kutztown.edu
Phone: 610-401-3236