The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Penn State University have recently been awarded a $3.8 million grant by the U.S. Department of Labor to support a Plastics Industry Initiative designed to enhance the plastic sector's competitiveness.

The goal of the Plastics Initiative is to maintain, strengthen, and expand the competitive advantage statewide. The Westmoreland/Fayette WIB, in consortium with the Three Rivers WIB, is the fiscal agent for the funding allocated to their local workforce areas. The specific purpose of these funds is to support high-tech skills training that will increase the competitiveness of the entire plastics industry.

The training funds are to be used to assist incumbent workers achieve industry-recognized skills and/or certificates. Other objectives of the Initiative are to assess the training needs of the industry, to provide a worker pipeline to industry-affiliated companies, and to establish a statewide network of industry partnerships for plastics. Our CareerLink Account Representative, Frank Zadylak, is leading this initiative. If you are a plastics manufacturer and would like more information on this training initiative, please contact Frank Zadylak at
724-755-2330, ext. 122.