Lehigh Times

Apprenticeships have been an integral part of the Wolf Administration’s effort to bolster the state’s workforce, and recently Gov. Tom Wolf announced that $287,895 will fund the Reading-based IBEW Local 743 training programs for apprentices in the electrical field.

According to an Oct. 7 release by the governor, the funds are through the Pennsylvania Pre-Apprentice and Apprenticeship Grant Program. Between 30 and 36 apprentices from Berks, Chester, Lancaster, Montgomery and Schuylkill counties will be trained by IBEW Local 743 personnel and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Penn-Del-Jersey Chapter. The apprentices will become Qualified Electrical Workers in the five-year program, which includes 8,000 hours of hands-on training and 1000 hours of classroom instruction.

“It’s vitally important to recruit and train the next generation of workers in the electrical industry,” Wolf said. “Apprenticeship programs like this one give trainees both the classroom work and the on-the-job experience to ensure there will be a continuous pipeline of talent to bolster the industry.”

There have been 86 pre-apprentice and apprenticeship programs and $13.5 million in investments through the state’s Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Pre-Apprentice and Apprenticeship Grant Program. The goal of the program is to enhance talent recruitment, development and increasing the accessibility of apprenticeships for residents seeking a career in multiple types of trades.

IBEW 743 Training Director Ed Bernitsky praised the apprenticeship program and the benefits it brings forth to the workforce in the electrical industry.

“The electrical industry has created a significant demand for Qualified Electrical Workers in our five-county area, and with the support of the DCED, our Apprenticeship Program will expand enrollment,” said Ed Bernitsky, Training Director, IBEW 743. “In an ever-changing industry, we can provide the most state-of-the-art training while our apprentices earn a fair wage and benefits.”