Workforce Development with 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.
WEDnetPA Partners
For the past 19 years, the Shippensburg University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and WEDnetPA at Shippensburg University have maintained a strong collaborative partnership dedicated to supporting business growth and workforce development throughout the region. Together, the programs work seamlessly to connect businesses with the resources they need by mutually referring eligible clients for business consulting, training, and employee skill development opportunities. In addition to referrals, the SBDC and WEDnetPA regularly collaborate on workshops, conferences, and outreach events, providing businesses with comprehensive access to expertise, funding opportunities, and workforce training solutions. This longstanding partnership has strengthened the regional business community by helping companies grow, innovate, and invest in their employees.
PennWest SBDC and the PASBDC Lead Office are part of more than two dozen WEDnetPA partners. These partners serve as local points of contact to assist your company in determining your eligibility, completing an application, and submitting invoices for reimbursement.
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.
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.