1. Adult Training
2. Industry Collaboration
3. School Collaboration
4. Youth Programs

PA Prosperity Partnerships (2009 Strategic Plan Report)

Workforce Development: Forum participants agree that Fayette County is home to persons with strong work ethic, but there is a need for more technical training and continuing education to build the workforce of the future.  Forum participants suggested a need for a stronger network between local businesses, schools, and post-secondary education leaders to develop strong internship programs for college students and start educational programs for children in K-12 to introduce them to career opportunities earlier.

What are the community needs for developing a 21^st century workforce?

•  Knowledge of what already exists to integrate and develop cohesion
• Workforce that is willing to learn, can think, problem solve, has a strong work ethic, is literate, and can communicate verbally and in writing
• Schools need appropriate funding stream/system and a united message to both federal and state government
• Businesses need employable people
• PSU Research Project
  • A “jolt” to local system, a “magnet” to draw entrepreneurs, high-skilled employees, encourage development and education by mere existence, an innovation center
• Major investment by all players
• Keep people here, market them, and focus support on all ages including youth, college, and adults
• Systemic change
  • School funding, flexibility, school year, unfunded mandates
  • Parents – involvement/responsibility
  • Mentoring
• Magnet or Jolt
  • Technology
  • Innovation
• Closed door discussion

What types of projects could the community and PSU work together on to meet the needs of the community with regard to developing a 21^st century workforce?

•  Articulation: 2+2 and new vo-tech school
• Parenting programs, greater integration
• Jolt/Research projects

Community Project Ideas:

1. We need free or low cost adult computer training for transitioning to a new role in the workforce. (Bville)
2. Developing necessary job skills programs to enhance current industry or attract new industry to the area (Bville)
3. Technical Education in Public Schools targeted at new and developing job skills. (Bville)
4. Alternate programs for At Risk students (job training) Beyond High . (Bville)
5. Follow up on job training at local high school or trade school courses. (Bville)
6. We need Career Mentoring Programs for youth in Brownsville.
7. Need teen or after school programs for incentives to work in the future. (Bullskin)
8. We need education assistance for Adult College Classes in Dawson & Vanderbilt areas.
9. Farm crops (give farmers assistance and train next generation). Function like Americorps/Pa Conservations Corps) (Connellsville)
10. Design standards (like what Ohiopyle is doing). (Connellsville)
11. All programs tied to apprenticeships at local business. (Connellsville)
12. Where are all the labor jobs? (Connellsville)
13. Job Placement, intern programs and Adult Training needed. (Connellsville)
14. Industry Collaboration – Industry should support education. (Connellsville)
15. School Collaboration – Universities, Schools and Industry work together. (Connellsville)
16. Need mentoring programs for youth to learn how to run a business. (Dunbar)
17. Life Skills need to be taught in the schools. (Dunbar)
18. Advance the Vocational Technical education experience in the area. (Fairchance)
19. Create a link between schools and businesses to help keep our youth in the area and support the logo of “give back to your community”. (Fairchance)
20. Industry to support/fund prep classes to enable job applicants to meet test standards. (Farmington)
21. Re-enforcement of knowledge in power so that everyone understands the need of education and lower drop out rates. (Farmington)
22. Improce the Vocational Technical Programs to meet the needs of the present, growing workforce in this county. (Farmington)
23. Create afte rschool programs (Masontown)
24. We need mentoring programs. (Masontown)
25. Include local business leaders to teach workforce skills to students. (Masontown)
26. Team seniors with youth to learn skills, crafts, music, school lessons, etc. (Masontown)
27. We need preschool and day care facilities in Masontown.
28. Need a world class vocational technical school. (Masontown)
29. Development of more programs by the public/private schools and colleges that will help with job placement after graduation. (Menallen)
30. Development of additional programs that would be focused on apprentice programs that is supported by the local small business community. (Menallen)
31. New hire training funds from the state are necessary. (Normalville/Mill run)
32. Work Ethic: starts at home with good work habits. (Normalville/Mill Run)
33. We need to develop work ethic – need programs to teach soft skills to those receiving assistance from the government. (Perryopolis)
34. We need additional vocational trainng in Perryopolis area.
35. Jobs! All jobs are valued. (Uniontown)
36. More training for everyone to be self-dependant in terms to government dependant. (Uniontown)
37. We need the creation of more jobs in this area. (Uniontown)
38. Adult and youth programs need to focus on jobs in the community. (Let us not train and have our youth to leave the area. (S. Connellsville)
39. Expand Educational Opportunties/Training by Career Technology Centers. (S. Connellsville)
40. Identify local mentors to help new entrepreneurs. (Business people, Bankers, Accountants, etc.) – countywide.  (Masontown)
41. Workers out of state are taking these top dollar jobs from our residents and then leaving – countywide. (Menallen)
42. We need our students trained so that they can fill these high paying jobs.  Are we ready? Welders for instance, comparies are desperate for them and we need to get apprentices to these operations – job shadow- adequate training through a good technical school.  We need to show our students where the jobs are, get them intersted, teach them and then their careers are set. (Menallen)
43. Marcellus shale is long term, so we need to create the jobs, give the residents the opportuntity to get these jobs, by education-then, our money will stay right here – countywide. (Menallen)
44. We need “Career Paths” for these new jobs.  We need comprehensive career guidance for this county. (Menallen)
45. We need to obtain higher paying industries in this county. (Uniontown)

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