Senate Passes Brubaker Workforce Development Legislation
 
HARRISBURG – The Senate approved legislation today sponsored by Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-36) that would support the Commonwealth’s workforce development efforts by continuing the Industry Partnerships program.
 
The Industry Partnerships program, which was created in 2005, brings together employers, educators and workforce representatives to ensure that workers and job-seekers have the tools and training they need to keep pace with the growing demands of Pennsylvania businesses. The program allows a cluster of businesses and organizations within an industry to work together to identify and address common workforce needs.
 
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, more than 6,300 businesses have taken part in more than 80 partnerships throughout the state, and more than 73,000 workers have received training through the program.
 
Senate Bill 1409 would amend Pennsylvania’s Workforce Development Act to codify the Industry Partnerships program within the Department of Labor and Industry.
 
“Businesses and employees who have participated in this program have voiced overwhelming support for making Industry Partnerships a permanent part of the state’s workforce development efforts,” Brubaker said. “The program has helped attract private sector investments and train workers to be competitive in the global marketplace, and I am hopeful that the House of Representatives will take action to support this bill to increase business productivity and employee wages before the end of the year.”
 
Senate Bill 1409 would also include the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture as a participating agency to promote Industry Partnerships in agriculture and agribusiness. Brubaker noted that the Lancaster County Workforce Investment Board has been very successful in bringing together agriculture educators, the agriculture community and agribusiness to address specific workforce needs in the industry, and similar Industry Partnerships could benefit the agriculture industry across the state.
 
Senate Bill 1409 will now go to the House of Representatives for consideration.
 
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