WEDnet PA Guaranteed Free Training Program
For additional information and application, contact:
Eileen Jenkins, WEDnetPA Manager
610-425-7435 / ejenkins@wcupa.edu
1160 McDermott Drive, Room 324
West Chester University
West Chester, PA
Information Technology and Basic Skills Training are available to qualified in-state businesses and out-of-state companies
relocating to the economic-friendly business climate of Pennsylvania. WEDnetPA is offered through the Workforce & Economic
Development Network of Pennsylvania and partners with West Chester University and other state institutions.
Businesses can benefit from a wide range of training that will put your employees on the path to higher performance.
Employer Qualifications
- Employers must be based in Pennsylvania or have a significant presence in the state.
- Point-of-sale retail businesses, gaming establishments, training vendors, employment agencies, government agencies,
government-owned facilities, education and nonprofit entities are ineligible.
- Note: some unions, labor organizations and non-profit healthcare entities may qualify as exceptions. Contact
WEDnetPA partner for more information.
- Employers with a high historical turnover rate (> than 50%) may be declared ineligible.
- Prior grant recipients with a high employee turnover (> than 40%) may be declared ineligible.
- Participation is limited to two years in a row and three out of the past five years.
- Training must commence within five months of the grant approval letter, or by the end of the fiscal year, whichever
comes first. If not, the funds will be forfeited.
- Each employer will sign a Statement of Eligibility Memorandum of Agreement confirming that s/he will meet all
requirements of the program, subject to verification.
Back to Top
Employee Qualifications
- Employees must be residents of Pennsylvania and employed in Pennsylvania.
- Employees must earn at least 150% of current federal minimum wage, excluding benefits.
- The jobs must be permanent full-time positions eligible for full-time benefits.
Back to Top
Basic Skills Training
Qualifications:
- Employees must be frontline employees or first-level supervisors (> 99 employees).
- Employers must be manufacturing or technology-based businesses including Biotech and Environmental-Tech companies.
- Employers may apply for funding for any number of eligible employees up to $450 per employee and $75,000 per fiscal year (July 1 to June 30).
- On-the-job, product-specific sales and orientation training do not qualify.
- Adult Literacy Service providers to address workplace literacy needs do not qualify.
Basic Skills are defined according to the type and scope of the business. Some of the training elements offered through the
program include:
- Applied Mathematics and Measurement
- Business Operations
- Communications and Teamwork
- Computers
- Manufacturing Fundamentals
- Blueprint Reading
- Welding, Soldering
- Tooling, Grinding
- Setup
- Machine Maintenance
- Problem Solving
- Product and Process Control
- Quality Assurance
- Workplace Behavior Skills
- Workplace Health and Safety
Back to Top
Information Technology Training
Qualifications:
- All employees taking IT-eligible training can be reimbursed with IT funds, regardless of job title, type of company
or company size, as long as there is a clear connection between the training and the employee's current job
responsibilities.
- Employers may apply for funding for any number of eligible employees up to $850 per employee and $50,000 per fiscal year
(July 1 to June 30).
- Introductory IT, introductory applied manufacturing and sales training courses are not eligible. MS Office software
training does not qualify as this training is considered basic skills training and is eligible for that program.
Information Technology Training provides instruction in a variety of information technology and advanced applied
manufacturing subjects. Some of the training elements offered through the program include:
- Advanced Applied Manufacturing Technology
- Computer Programming
- Data Base Development
- E-Business/Commerce
- Information Security
- Management Information Systems
- Network Administration
- Software Engineering
- Systems Analysis
- Technology Support
- Web Site Design and Development
Back to Top
Flexibility, Accountability and Convenience
- The program includes both instructor-led and online courses which can be taken on-site at the company, at a training
provider's location, online or at West Chester University's Graduate Business Center.
- Companies may select the training providers of their choice.
- Company in-house training is permitted.
- Only WEDnetPA partners are authorized to process applications.
Back to Top
