2008-09 INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP
GUIDELINES RELEASED 

The guidelines for the 2008-09 Industry Parternship Proposals can be downloaded here.  Please read the guidelines carefully as there are several changes for this year.   Proposals that do not adhere to the new guidelines will not be considered for funding.  Additionally, Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board is requesting the following:

Important to note:

1. In order for TRWIB to provide a letter of support, we need to have our Executive Committee approve the proposals we wish to support.  In order to facilitate this, all proposals must be received by TRWIB no later than 5pm, Thursday, July 17, 2008.  We apologize for any inconvenience this causes.  However, in order to allow the Executive Committee to review the proposals, we must request them a bit earlier than the State.  ALL PROPOSALS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO AUDREY BODE at abode@trwib.org or at TRWIB, 425 Sixth Avenue, Suite 650, RET, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
   
   
2. If you are applying to a grant in which TRWIB will be the fiscal agent but will involve other regions and counties, you must include a letter of support from the other Local Workforce Investment Area.  For example, if TRWIB is the lead WIB for your project, but the project also involves trainers or employers in Westmoreland County, a letter of support from the Westmoreland Fayette WIB must be included or the proposal will not be considered.
   
   
3. If you mention work of the PA CareerLink in your proposal, you must obtain a letter of support from the CareerLink in the region your proposal covers.  TRWIB would be happy to act as liaison between applicants for our region and our local CareerLink leadership team.  Submit your request to Audrey Bode at abode@trwib.org.
   
   
4. Please note that it says in Section 2 – Eligible Applicants  “…The lead applicant and person or organization involved in partnership management and/or coordination, may not seek reimbursement for training services that they provide (the costs of these services may be applied as matching funds).”  Essentially, the state is requiring that the program manager or facilitator decide which role they will play: facilitate or be a training provider.  They cannot be both.  If they do provide training the costs can be paid for by the employers and counted as match.

Industry partnerships

Pennsylvania officials have been aware of the threat as well as the opportunity that workforce shortages present to the region's economy. They have introduced a number of programs designed to help employers target workforce gaps and prioritize their workforce needs. Those priorities are backed by $20 million in state funds which are earmarked to create new industry partnerships and train thousands of workers to meet the needs identified through them.

Job Ready Pennsylvania aligns spending on local workforce training with the available state funds by bringing public and private sector stakeholders together. The partnerships are based on key industries identified at the state and regional levels as being particularly important to growth. Each partnership is led by an industry liaison.

In this region, the Three Rivers investment Board (TRWIB), along with other workforce investment boards, helps to line up and administer the funds. In short, the TRWIB:

• Helps convene regional industry cluster committees (see list, right);
• Oversees industry partner grants; and
• Develops strategies and tactics to attract and retain qualified workers critical to the region's economy according to priority industries.