Luzerne/Schuylkill Workforce Investment Board, Inc.

Thirteen job seekers graduated Friday from a program designed to prepare individuals for positions with local food-processing companies.

Graduates of the Qualified Food Worker Certification Program were honored at a ceremony Friday at the PA CareerLink® center in Hazleton after completing a weeklong training curriculum. Following the ceremony, several local food industry employers interviewed the graduates for jobs.

The training program was sponsored by the Northeast PA Food Processing Industry Partnership, which works to align regional resources and services to meet the needs of the food-processing industry cluster. The program’s goal is to develop a ready pool of candidates for positions with local food-processing companies.

The Qualified Food Worker Certification Program was funded through a grant procured by the Luzerne/Schuylkill Workforce Investment Board, which is responsible for overseeing the programs administered through the PA CareerLink centers in Hazleton, Wilkes-Barre and Pottsville. Training for the program was conducted by Penn State University.

“CareerLink has two goals: to help local companies find qualified employees and to help local residents find jobs. Through training programs such as these, we meet the needs of both employer and employee,” said Elaine Stalfa, site administrator for the CareerLink center in Hazleton.

Employers participating in Friday’s job fair included Mission Foods, The Hershey Co., Romark Logistics, Michael Foods Egg Products and Mrs. T’s/Ateeco.

Lucyann Vierling, executive director of the Luzerne/Schuylkill Workforce Investment Board, said the program was developed by the Northeast PA Food Processing Industry Partnership to ensure candidates had the appropriate skills necessary to become employed in their companies.

“The Industry Partnership and training program arose out of collaboration among workforce investment agencies, food-processing companies, local economic groups and educational institutions. After identifying the food-processing cluster in northeastern Pennsylvania, we worked to see what we could do to support and grow the cluster,” she said.

L/S WIB Chair Martha Herron said, “The response from employers to this program has been excellent, proving that these types of training programs are extremely beneficial. Employers know that graduates of the program have the skills required to be successful employees in the food industry. The fact that employers guaranteed an interview to program graduates is a testament to the program’s success.”

Participants in the certification program studied topics such as food regulations, standard industry practices, food safety, sanitation, interview skills and resumé preparation. They also toured the Yuengling Brewery in Pottsville and Cargill Meat Solutions in Hazle Township.

Friday’s ceremony included speakers from the Luzerne/Schuylkill Workforce Investment Board, the Hazleton CareerLink center, the Northeast PA Food Processing Industry Partnership and Penn State University.