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Image Courtesy of Tri-County Workforce Investment Board
Bolstering domestic manufacturing is critical for America to meet increased technological demands and remain competitive on the global stage. Energy communities are prime locations for manufacturing facilities because they have the workers and the grit to get the job done.
In 2022, the Tri-County Workforce Investment Board (TCWIB) received a $1.4 million POWER award from the Appalachian Regional Commission to create a pipeline of skilled Appalachian workers to support the semiconductor manufacturing industry.
TCWIB will work in partnership with the Steamfitters Local Union 449 to offer free training for workers in 15 coal-impacted counties in Pennsylvania to sustain careers in semiconductor manufacturing, HVAC-R services, building information modeling and welding processes. Training will include advanced skills for specific needs identified by contractors and soft skills for employability and customer service.
The program expects to recruit and train up to 550 workers, including displaced coal plant workers, at the Steamfitters’ 570,000-square-foot facility in Harmony, PA. Upon course completion, participants will immediately be employment-ready with industry-recognized skills. Several local and regional manufacturers have a presence at the facility, further aiding in quick employment for program graduates.
Western Pennsylvania is ranked in the Energy Communities IWG’s top 25 priority energy communities. Pennsylvania remains the third highest coal-producing state in the country and in Appalachian Pennsylvania, 67% of counties are coal-producing. As of 2022, there were 108 coal mines in the state, a steep drop from the 120 mines operating in 2021. The region has also experienced the closure of several coal-fired power plants, including First Energy’s Hatfield’s Ferry and Mitchell power stations, Shenango Coke Works plant, Erie Coke Corporation’s Erie Coke Site, and Cheswick Generating Station.
The Energy Communities IWG is charged with advancing an interagency commitment of robust federal leadership in direct partnership with energy communities to foster economic investment and revitalization and ensure the creation of good-paying jobs. The Energy Communities IWG has identified billions of dollars in funding to support transitioning energy communities in reviving their economy for the future. Investments in projects such as the Tri-County Workforce Investment Board help ensure new jobs and opportunities will become available in all pockets of America.