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Shapiro highlights expanded workforce development during visit to Luzerne County training center

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Education Daily Wire Aug 25, 2025

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Josh Shapiro, Governor | Pennsylvania Government

Governor Josh Shapiro visited the IBEW Local 163 JATC Electrical Training Center in Luzerne County to emphasize his administration's focus on workforce development. The visit highlighted increased funding for vocational-technical education, career and technical education (CTE), and apprenticeships throughout Pennsylvania.

Since Governor Shapiro took office, the state has secured over $25.2 billion in private investment, leading to more than 11,200 new jobs. Among these investments is a $20 billion commitment from Amazon Web Services to build cloud computing and artificial intelligence campuses in several locations across the state, including Salem Township in Luzerne County. This project is expected to generate thousands of technology, construction, and supplier jobs.

The Commonwealth is allocating an initial $10 million toward expanding workforce training programs statewide. These efforts aim to prepare workers for opportunities arising from recent private sector investments and position Pennsylvania as a leader in advanced technologies. Code for America ranked Pennsylvania among the top three states for AI readiness in its July 2025 Government AI Landscape Assessment.

Governor Shapiro stated: "There are many paths to success - whether it's college, the military, an apprenticeship, or going straight into a job - and in Pennsylvania, we're making sure every one of those paths is open and accessible. We've increased our investments in vo-tech, CTE, and apprenticeships by 50 percent so that more Pennsylvanians have the freedom to chart their own course and the opportunity to succeed. By expanding apprenticeships and partnering with our unions, we're building a highly-skilled workforce that will grow our economy and creating real opportunity for Pennsylvanians in communities across the Commonwealth."

Speakers at the event included John Olejnik of IBEW Local 163; Matt Atherton, an apprentice at IBEW Local 163; Lindsay Griffin-Boylan of Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber; Holly Pilcavage from Luzerne County Community College; as well as Governor Shapiro.

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