Pittsburgh Review

Last week, Gov. Tom Wolf said that $297,000 in funds will go to the Western Pennsylvania Electrical Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC). The funds will benefit the Clearfield Training Center, which will be expanded to meet a growing need, according to a release from the governor's office.

The JATC's goal is to prepare students for a career as an electrician. The nonprofit organization offers a tuition-free five-year apprenticeship program. The funding, provided by the Pre-Apprenticeship and Apprenticeship Grant Program, will help expand the Clearfield Training Center’s classrooms and lab space, the release said. The additional classrooms will help ease the burden of students who commute more than two hours each way for hands-on lab training at the Pittsburgh facility.

Funding will also go toward the hiring of three part-time instructors, as there has been an increase in enrolled students recently. 

“The JATC is committed to addressing the demand for skilled electricians by providing tuition-free, state-of-the-art electrical training through in-seat classroom instruction and on-the-job training,” Paul Reinert, JATC training director, said. “Apprentices enter our program at various ages and stages in their lives, from young men and women just graduating high school to men and women with families. This grant will help us continue a tuition-free program so the high school graduate can start to establish themselves financially to move forward into adulthood, and the adult who already has multiple financial obligations does not have to fret about additional monetary burdens.”

According to the release, the pre-apprentice and apprenticeship programs help increase apprenticeship availability to employers around the state. The programs help employers with talent recruitment and development. Eligible applicants can receive funding toward apprenticeship accessibility. The fund usage includes expenses for instruction that goes along with learning on the job.

“Supporting apprenticeships is a win for both workers and companies in the commonwealth,” Wolf said. “Participating in apprenticeships allows Pennsylvanians to earn a paycheck while learning the specialized skills employers need. My administration will continue to invest in these programs that strengthen our workforce, help existing businesses succeed, and attract new companies looking to set up shop in Pennsylvania.”