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WILKES-BARRE — United States Representative Matt Cartwright announced on Monday that the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has provided $100,000 to the Greater Wilkes-Barre Industrial Fund, also known as Wilkes-Barre Connect, for the “Designing the Future Workforce for Northeastern Pennsylvania (NEPA Works)” project.
The project will also receive an additional $100,000 in funding from local sources, bringing the total amount to $200,000. With this investment, Wilkes-Barre Connect will aim to enhance the quality of the workforce by addressing specific skills gaps, increasing opportunities for employees to find gainful employment and providing businesses with the opportunity to expand because of the availability of additional qualified workers.
“Everyone deserves the dignity of a good-paying job,” Cartwright said. “During this time of crisis, federal funding that helps prepare people for new jobs and enables them to earn a living and support their families will help restore economic opportunity in our region.”
“NEPA Works provides Wilkes-Barre Connect with the opportunity to launch two workforce pilot programs in Luzerne County, focused on enhancing connectivity between job seekers and job providers and providing upskill and career pathway opportunities within the computer programming industry,” said Wilkes-Barre Connect Executive Director Joseph Boylan,
“The project will aid in our recovery efforts to strengthen our workforce and assist as individuals reenter the workforce in Northeastern Pennsylvania. We thank Congressman Cartwright for his support and leadership in securing resources during our region’s greatest time of need,” Boylan added.