Connecting students with future employers  

            Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) Acting Deputy Secretary for Workforce Development Dan Kuba attended the Careers of Tomorrow Expo on Oct. 25, a career-awareness event for high school students, to highlight the importance of supporting young workers and their contributions to Pennsylvania's workforce.

            "Young people make up the next generation of Pennsylvania's workforce and play an important role in ensuring further economic growth in Pennsylvania," Kuba said. "Like many workforce development efforts happening across the commonwealth, the Careers of Tomorrow Expo is committed to ensuring equal access to career opportunities for all Pennsylvanians and empowering young people to make informed decisions about their future."

            The multi-industry expo, hosted by the Montgomery County Commerce Department and Montgomery County Workforce Development Board (MontcoWorks), featured more than 80 employers from industries including manufacturing, building trades, healthcare, energy, social assistance, information technology, public safety, and education.

            Earlier this year, the Wolf Administration announced the department's plan to distribute more than $3 million in Business-Education Partnership (BEP) grant funding to 22 workforce development organizations across the commonwealth to connect Pennsylvania businesses with school districts, teachers, and students and better prepare young workers entering into Pennsylvania's evolving workforce system.

            In 2022, MontcoWorks received $118,000 in BEP funding to address challenges in Montgomery County and develop a diverse talent pipeline for a variety of industries, including construction, healthcare, and manufacturing. MontcoWorks is also utilizing grant funding to increase opportunities for students to engage in meaningful work-based learning opportunities outside of career and technical education centers, specifically with the help of community organizations and PA CareerLink® offices.

            "As we return to our first in-person student career fair since 2019, we know there are multiple industries in Montgomery County that need a skilled workforce now and, in the future," said Dr. Valerie A. Arkoosh, Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. "The Business Education Partnership and events such as Careers of Tomorrow give us a platform to make Montgomery County the place to live, work, invest and learn for the next generation of workers."