Support for Businesses

Pennsylvania is a state with a high unemployment rate and a large number of frustrated displaced workers. It is also a place where numerous industries are unable to fill positions because of the lack of untrained workers. How does the state plan to remedy these two problems quickly and effectively? Thanks to recent federal funding into the state’s community college system, training for in-demand jobs is on the way for Pennsylvania residents that need those jobs the most.

What is JobTrakPA?

JobTrakPA is a new Pennsylvania program created with federal dollars from the Department of Labor. The agency recently awarded the state a $20 million grant through the Department of Labor Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College Career Training (TACT) program. The program allows displaced Pennsylvania workers to train for in-demand jobs within the state by pairing community college course offerings directly with the needs of the community. The program has awarded grants to states across the country that demonstrated a need for job re-training and the necessary resources to provide the right kind of training to displaced workers in the community.

“Pennsylvania employers tell us that they have jobs waiting for workers with career-specific skills in several high-growth industries,” Dr. Alex Johnson, president of the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges, told the Herald Online. “Community colleges are part of a nationwide effort to provide a new skill-set to our workforce that will create career pathways for qualified workers in the shortest possible

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, also known as OSHA, was established to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for working men and women, according to the U.S. Department of Labor website. The act is designed to provide the necessary training and education to maintain a high level of safety in a wide range of industries.

To work in these industries, new employees are often required to attend OSHA training prior to beginning their new job. Today, there are plenty of options in OSHA training, since community colleges across the country have stepped up to answer the call for skilled laborers who understand the importance of safety on the job.

This video explains what OSHA is.

Determining a Need

OSHA includes a specific set of training guidelines that must be applied to all businesses, from the employer down through all of the employees. The guidelines include:

• Determining whether there is a need for training
• Identifying training needs, goals and objectives
• Developing learning activities and conducting training
• Evaluating the effectiveness of the program and creating improvements when necessary

The model set forth by the U.S. Department of Labor makes it much easier for smaller companies to conduct their own training without going to the added expense of hiring professional trainers or purchasing expensive materials. However, the value from utilizing a community college program for OSHA training often makes this path the best

The current economic slowdown has displaced many American workers, but that doesn't mean there are not any jobs available today. In fact, numerous industries are hard-pressed to find employees who are trained and ready to work in their fields. The solution has been presented by many community colleges across the country: accelerated job training programs that get displaced workers off the unemployment line and back to work in new industries with better potential for stability and job growth.

Program Cost and Requirements

Some of the programs charge a nominal fee to complete, while others are completely free to participants because they are supported by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The ARRA is the stimulus package signed by President Obama, designed to combat the effects of the current recession. Part of the ARRA budget is used to retrain workers for other fields when they have lost their jobs because of the economic slowdown. If a program falls into the guidelines of the ARRA, the courses may be offered free of charge to the student, since the federal government picks up the tab.

This video explains how the ARRA works.

Courses not covered by the ARRA may also be offered for a nominal fee. Depending on the program and the community college in question, costs may range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. Some programs are completed in

Despite a dwindling economy, many business experts believe there is still room for entrepreneurs. In fact, individuals with striking ideas that are budget friendly may be in for luck at their local community college!

If you have an idea for your own business and want to discover the secrets to entrepreneurship success, sign up at your local community college. With courses specializing in diverse fields, community colleges can help up-and-coming entrepreneurs refine their business concepts, set up their financial goals, and gain insight into the legal requirements of operating a company.

The Benefits between Community Colleges and Business

As the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) supports, community colleges have the opportunity to play an integral role in the economic wellness of a surrounding community. NACCE aims to boost the community college’s traditional role of workforce training into new and innovative forms of entrepreneurial development.

As NACCE explains, with a college’s ties to its community and a nationwide link to fellow colleges across the country, entrepreneurial opportunities result in “Innovative ideas and programs that advance economic growth and prosperity in the communities served by the colleges.” Community colleges can help stimulate job growth, economic development, and tax revenues for the local area by supporting entrepreneurs.

This video offers an overview of the MassBay Community College business program.

Community College Entrepreneur Programs