Press Releases

U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08) today announced a federal award of $327,497 to the Wayne Pike Workforce Alliance. The federal funding is distributed through the U.S. Department of Labor’s (USDOL) Workforce Opportunities for Rural Communities (WORC) program, in partnership nationally with the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and the Delta Regional Authority (DRA).

“I applaud the Wayne Pike Workforce Alliance for their continued efforts to leverage federal funding and local partnerships to help people where they are in their careers and put them on a path to success,” said Rep. Cartwright, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “In this pandemic, the gaps to accessing job training, career counseling, and workforce development seem even wider. And that is why I will always be a strong advocate for funding programs that help workers and businesses thrive.”

“We are sincerely appreciative that USDOL acknowledges workforce development initiatives be tailored to meet the needs of varied populations,” said Lucyann Vierling, Executive Director of the Wayne Pike Workforce Alliance. “It is our intent to provide the supports necessary to ensure successful transition through this recovery to work approach.”

Pike Workforce Alliance is the designated Community Education Council (CEC) for Wayne and Pike Counties. CECs in Pennsylvania create accessible educational programs in underserved rural communities.

WORC grants enable communities within the Appalachian and Delta regions that have been hard-hit by economic transition and are slowly recovering to develop local and regional workforce development solutions that align with economic development strategies. Grant recipients work with industry and community partners to promote new, sustainable job opportunities and long-term economic vitality through grant activities that address the specific needs of businesses and workers in their communities.