Money received by the Luzerne/Schuylkill Workforce Investment Board through the federal stimulus package is paying dividends in the region for young and displaced workers.
That was the message relayed during a public meeting of the board Thursday at the Keystone Job Corps Center in Drums.
Earlier this year, the workforce investment board received more than $3.5 million as part of the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 – commonly known as the stimulus plan.
The funding was earmarked to provide adult workforce training, training for displaced workers, and summer jobs for young people throughout Luzerne and Schuylkill counties.
At the time, the WIB projected it will be able to serve 111 adults, 214 displaced workers and 480 youth from ages 14 to 24 with the federal stimulus funds. The program funds can be used over a two-year period.
Lucyann Vierling, Luzerne/Schuylkill WIB executive director, said Thursday that the program has shown more early success than projected.
“Since funding was received in May, the Workforce Investment Board has already provided summer jobs for more than 400 young people between 14 and 24 years old and training opportunities for more than 60 adults, some of whom are displaced workers,” Vierling said.
She explained that the displaced workers and adults are already receiving job training through the stimulus funding in areas such as AutoCAD design and drafting, computer repair, and phlebotomy. General areas of training include information and communication, logistics and transportation, and health care.
The group heard from two college students who benefitted from the funding for the summer jobs program.
“I was able to have a job thanks to this program, and I was able to pay some student loans and other bills,” said Anthony Corotto of Pottsvile, a student at Kutztown University. He explained he had a job with the city’s streets department. “If it wasn’t for this, I wouldn’t have a job.”
Joseph Lapinski of Mocanaqua, who spent the summer working in Luzerne County, echoed those thoughts.
“This helped me pay some bills,” Lapinski said, explaining he has two small children at home. “It was a great opportunity. I met so many people who had great experiences in this program. There are so many students who said they gained tremendous experience through this.”
Vierling said the funding worked exactly as it was designed to.
“If we don’t invest in our kids now, what are we going to do for their futures?” she asked.
Luzerne/Schuylkill WIB Chairman Martha M. Herron said the board is really working hard to maximize the impact of every federal dollar it received.
“The WIB doesn’t view stimulus funding as a temporary windfall, but as an opportunity for us to provide lifelong, career-enhancing training opportunities for this region’s workers and businesses,” Herron explained.
The Luzerne/Schuylkill Workforce Investment Board engages business, industry, education, and economic development and community organizations to identify workforce challenges and develop strategies and solutions to address those challenges. Members of the WIB include representatives from private sector businesses and industry, chambers of commerce, financial institutions, community groups, economic development agencies, state and county agencies, and educational institutions from across Luzerne and Schuylkill counties.
