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Workforce & Training

Northeastern Pennsylvania offers quality education and workforce training. Most local school districts offer advanced placement, gifted programs and special education services with skilled, dedicated and loyal teachers.

In addition to top-notch elementary and secondary schools, numerous well-regarded universities, colleges and technical schools contribute to the quality of our educational resources.

From traditional disciplines to continuing education and customized workforce development programs, the educational system in northeastern Pennsylvania has what you need.

In today's competitive business environment, companies need a workforce that's not only well-trained, but is consistently able to upgrade skills and keep up with new trends and technologies.

State-sponsored programs

Customized Job Training (CJT) This state grant program reimburses Pennsylvania employers for specialized job training for existing or newly hired employees. CJT funds can be used for consumable materials and supplies, approved contracted services, instructional costs and relevant travel costs for instructors.

Workforce & Economic Development Network of PA (WEDnetPA) A Guaranteed Free Training Program offered by Pennsylvania to strengthen an already healthy and supportive business environment by rewarding in-state businesses that show solid growth and out-of-state companies that decide to relocate to Pennsylvania. Qualified companies receive free job training.

Work Force Investment Act of 1998 (Title 1) A federal program that provides job training to eligible individuals. Companies can be reimbursed for up to 50 percent of wages paid to eligible trainees during the training period. The amount of time included in the training period varies with the difficulty of the job. Eligible employees include, but are not limited to, those who are economically disadvantaged and those who have been dislocated due to a plant closing or mass layoff.

For more information on workforce development programs, visit www.newpa.com.

County-sponsored programs

Numerous programs at local colleges, universities and vocational-technical schools work closely with employers and economic development officials to custom-develop training programs and access training grants.

Workforce Investment Areas

The region is served by four Workforce Investment Areas, the Lackawanna County Workforce Investment Area NE055, the Luzerne/Schuylkill Counties Workforce Investment Area NE075, the Northern Tier Workforce Investment Area and the Pocono Counties Workforce Investment Area NE135.  The respective Workforce Investment Areas were designated by the Governor to implement programs established by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA). Each area is served by a non-profit Workforce Investment Board (WIB) comprised of private-sector business people, community based organizations, labor, economic development and education representatives involved in directing employment and training opportunities to residents of their area.

Lackawanna County Workforce Investment Area NE055
Phone: 570-342-3649
www.wiblackawanna.org

Luzerne/Schuylkill Counties Workforce Investment Area NE075 (Luzerne & Schuylkill Counties)
Phone: 570-822-1101
www.lswib.org

Northern Tier Workforce Investment Area (Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Wyoming Counties)
Phone: 570-265-9103 x.515
www.northerntier.org/WorkforceInvestment.php

Pocono Counties Workforce Investment Area NE135 (Carbon, Monroe, Pike, Wayne Counties)
Phone: 570-325-2462
www.pcwia.org/wib.html

Universities and Colleges in the Northeastern Pennsylvania

The NEPA RBI is collaboratively linking college and university research & development programs and working with the universities to expand Biosciences education and training to attract and retain skilled workers.

There are 14 higher education institutions throughout the 8-county region that support the life sciences with programs in biotechnology, health, and informatics. There is also a strong emphasis on R&D collaboration between universities and businesses.

Baptist Bible College
www.bbc.edu

Commonwealth Medical College (TCMC)
www.thecommonwealthmedical.com

East Stroudsburg University
www.esu.edu

Johnson College
www.johnson.edu

Keystone College
www.keystone.edu

Kings College
www.kings.edu

Lackawanna College
www.lackawanna.edu

Luzerne County Community College
www.luzerne.edu

Marywood University
www.marywood.edu

Misercordia University
www.misericordia.edu

Northampton Community College
www.northampton.edu

Penn State - Hazleton
www.hn.psu.edu

Penn State - Schuylkill
www.sl.psu.edu

Penn State - Wilkes Barre
www.wb.psu.edu

Penn State - Worthington Scranton
www.sn.psu.edu

University of Scranton
www.scranton.edu

Wilkes University
www.wilkes.edu

 

RBI Facts

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FACT #1:

More than $2 Million in NIH funding has been attracted to NEPA within the last five years.

FACT #2:

Companies including Sanofi Pasteur are currently doing business in NEPA at a cost of 26.5% less than if operating in New York and 21.1% less than in Philadelphia.

FACT #3:

FedEx and UPS are operating refrigerated distribution facilities in NEPA due to our location, labor and operating costs.

FACT #4:

32.3% of NEPA’s population is over the age of 65, providing companies with an available pool of patients for equipment and pharmaceutical testing.

FACT #5:

Companies providing specialty healthcare services can capitalize on $1 Billion of annual patient care revenue currently leaving the NEPA region.

Testimonials

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The key reasons for our success in distribution in Northeastern Penn. are we are located within 5 hours of all major cities in the Mid-Atlantic and New England areas, low overhead, low taxes and an inspired workforce.

Ray Lick
Wilkes Barre Regional Manager, Henry Schein

This area’s great access, combined with a dedicated and highly productive workforce, has helped Benco Dental become the nation’s largest independent dental distributor.

Rick Cohen
Managing Director, Benco Dental

NEPA presents a unique opportunity for bioscience companies to capitalize on the region’s intellectual resources and geographic proximity to major metropolitan areas.

John P. Wiercinski
Regional VP for Geisinger Health System

The rapid growth and success of this region has provided BioSpectra will a skilled labor force and contributed to our own growth.

Dora Meissner
BioSpectra

It is undeniable that our northeastern region has a wealth of diverse bioscience resources.

Jerry Musheno
Vice President, Project /Program Administration, Maximus

Questions?

For more information,
contact:

Penn's Northeast

John L Augustine III

President/CEO

(570) 883-0504

- OR -

Amy Luyster

Assistant Vice President,
The Scranton Plan

(570) 342-7711