Hundreds of workers will be recalled and 30 hired for jobs at JLG Industries in McConnellsburg, Pa., where they will receive extensive training through a $300,000 federal grant and matching funds from the company, Governor Edward G. Rendell said on October 21.
"The economic downturn has made it tough for all employers in Pennsylvania and the workers who rely on them for jobs, particularly in our manufacturing sector," Governor Rendell said. "As new orders dropped, JLG Industries was forced to make significant layoffs, which was devastating to the affected workers and the local economy. But thanks to a recent military contract, the company is bringing back 650 of its workers who were laid off, and is hiring 30 new employees. In order to succeed in meeting this new demand, these returning employees – through no fault of their own – need to enhance their skills. That's where the commonwealth comes in, with $300,000 in federal dislocated worker funds that will be used to train those 680 workers."
The federal dislocated worker funds are available through the Workforce Investment Act to support local training, education and reemployment activities for workers who have lost their jobs through mass layoffs. The funds awarded on October 21 will help to expand the manufacturing capabilities of JLG employees to include military trucks. The recalled workers will participate in three to four weeks of extensive training.
The governor also pointed out that through its involvement with the local Industry Partnerships – a nationally recognized initiative of Pennsylvania's workforce development system – JLG was well-positioned to have a program prepared and in place when it received the training funds from Labor & Industry. The $300,000 grant will leverage at least that much that JLG will invest in the training.
"This is an example of workforce development at its finest and most effective," Rendell said. "We are leveraging private investment with public funds to put people back to work with new skills, in good-paying jobs – in the $12 to $20 per hour range. This pumps money into the local economy now and provides skills that can keep people working long-term."
