/ By Jenn Seese / Workforce Development/ 0 Comments

Building Maintenance Training Opportunity

JARI is offering a 24 week Building Maintenance training program at no cost to eligible individuals residing in the Minersville, Moxham, Walnut Grove and Kernville Neighborhoods, City of Johnstown.

The program will be conducted by the Commonwealth Technical Institute at Hiram G. Andrews Center and will offer the option to earn industry based credentials that will enable participants to seek employment in public or private schools, apartment buildings, retail facilities, motels or public utilities. Classes are scheduled for March 16th through August 31st. Classes will run Monday through Friday from 8:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Orientation will be held on March 6th at 9:00 A.M.

Seating is limited. Individuals who meet the requirements will be enrolled in the course on a first come basis. If you are interested in learning more about the program and registering for the information session, please contact Debi Balog, Workforce Development Director via e-mail at or by calling (814) 262-8366.

The program is funded through PA Department of Community and Economic Development, Neighborhood Assistance Tax Credit Program.

View Flyer

/ By Lauren Thompson / Workforce Development/ 0 Comments

Voting Open for the “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” Video Contest

Catalyst Connection will be hosting an award ceremony for students who participated in this year’s Explore the New Manufacturing Student Video Contest. Eleven regional schools were paired with 11 regional manufacturing companies to create a video with the theme “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” The program is one of many efforts to build awareness about career opportunities in manufacturing. Come celebrate the resurgence of manufacturing in the region, see the work created by regional students and network with regional manufacturing companies.

Click on the voting link to review the videos and cast your vote.  Click on the registration link to RSVP for the ceremony. JARI and the Somerset Chamber of Commerce are partners in this program. If you have any questions, please contact Debi Balog at 814-262-8366 or via at .

/ By Jocelyn Hartman / News • Workforce Development/ 0 Comments

JARI’s Workforce Development Director Recognized by VCI

Debi Balog, JARI’s Workforce Development Director, will be recognized on Friday as a recipient of the Ed Cernic, Sr. Community Support Recognition Award through the Veteran’s Community Initiative. The award recognizes individuals who support and assist our veterans and their family members.

Congratulations, Debi!

/ By Jocelyn Hartman / Workforce Development/ • / 0 Comments

Commercial Driving Training Opportunity

JARI is offering a 240-hour Commercial Driver training program at no cost to eligible individuals residing in the Woodvale, Old Conemaugh Borough, Prospect, and Kernville Neighborhoods of Johnstown.

The program will be conducted by the Greater Johnstown Career & Technology Center (GJC&TC) and will offer the option to earn industry based credentials that will enable participants to seek employment in Transportation, Distribution, Construction and related industries. Classes are scheduled to begin spring 2019. The deadline for inquiries is Friday, January 31.

Seating is limited. Individuals who meet the requirements will be enrolled in the course on a first come basis. An information session is scheduled for 10:00am, Wednesday, February 6 at the GJCTC. If you are interested in learning more about the program and registering for the information session, please contact Debi Balog, Workforce Development Director via e-mail at or by calling (814) 262-8366.

 

/ By Jocelyn Hartman / News • Workforce Development/ • / 0 Comments

JARI’s Neighborhood Assistance Tax Credit Program Approved!

Debi Balog, Workforce Development Director

The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development has approved JARI’s Neighborhood Assistance Tax Credit (NAP) application for $67,000.  Contributions from four businesses will be used to provide Class A, Commercial Driver training to 10 eligible individuals. First priority will be given to residents of the Woodvale, Old Conemaugh Borough, Prospect, and Kernville sections of the City of Johnstown.
The NAP tax credit program provides businesses with state tax liability the option to make a donation to the JARI Workforce Program and receive 55% tax credits in exchange for their donation.
This is the fourth year of the program. Serving residents of the City of Johnstown. Collectively, the program has placed 60 individuals in full-time employment.
Special thanks to the following business contributors whose tax dollars will be "put to work" supporting residents of our local community: 1st Summit Bank, First National Bank, Northwest Bank and Somerset Trust Company.
If you are interested in learning more about the training program or are a business that would like to participate in the JARI NAP Tax Credit Program, please contact Debi Balog, JARI Workforce Development Director at 814-262-8366 or via e-mail at .
/ By Jocelyn Hartman / News • Workforce Development/ • • / 0 Comments

Partners Spotlighted at the 2018 SAS Conference

Each year the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) hosts an annual conference designed to provide educators with updates on state educational initiatives. The Standards Aligned System (SAS) Institute includes general sessions with nationally recognized keynote presenters, panel presentations and breakout sessions that highlight exemplars and programming from schools and organizations across the commonwealth. This year, the conference was held at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center on December 9th-12th. The SAS Conference attracts approximately 200 Superintendents from across the Commonwealth.

One of this year’s keynote presenters was Eileen Cipriani, Deputy Secretary for Workforce Development with Pennsylvania’s Department of Labor and Industry. She addressed Pennsylvania workforce needs and how increasing partnerships can build a system of competitiveness and innovation.  Workforce, education, and business partners from the Southern Alleghenies Region were invited to participate in a panel discussion to showcase the impact of a highly functioning partnership in Pennsylvania.

SAS Conference Panelist

Panelist: Debi Balog, Director, Workforce Development/JARI, Susan K. Whisler, Director, Southern Alleghenies Workforce Development Board, Barbara A. Zaborowski, Ph.D. Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, Eileen Cipriani, PA Deputy Secretary for Workforce Development, Shawn Kaufman, Director, Human Resources, Riggs Industries, PA Department of Community & Economic Development, Gwen Ross, Director of Workforce Development Initiatives and Carole M. Kakabar, Superintendent, Ferndale Area School District.

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Deputy Secretary visits Somerset Career and Technology Center

Eileen Cipriani, Deputy Secretary for workforce development in Pa Department of Labor and Industry visited Somerset County Technology Center on Tuesday, December 11th, 2018. Ms. Cipriani announced a newly registered early childhood apprenticeship, in cooperation with The Learning Lamp, Penn Highlands, and PA CareerLink.

Additionally, Deputy Secretary and attendees toured the Early Childhood Education, Machinery, and Welding shops and spoke about JARI's training-to-careers grant through Gov. Tom Wolf’s Manufacturing PA initiative that has funded displaced workers to go through welding courses at local Career and Technology Schools in the region, including SCTC.

A panel of individuals including SCTC’s Principal Matt Danel, Dan Liess of Leiss Tool & Die, SCTC's Early Childhood Education Instructor Michele Fochtman, Deputy Secretary Eileen Cipriani, President of Penn Highlands Community College Walter Asonevich, and Pa Senator Pat Steffano spoke to students in Early Childhood Education, Machinery, and Welding programs about upcoming and current apprenticeship opportunities.

/ By Lauren Thompson / Cambria County • Workforce Development/ 0 Comments

PA CareerLink Cambria County Holding Grand Opening

The PA CareerLink – Cambria County will be holding a grand opening event of their new location on Thursday, October 25th at 11:00 AM. The new location is in the Cambria County Library located at 248 Main Street in downtown Johnstown. Attendees will be able to take a tour of the new location.

Click here to view flyer details. If you’re interested in attending please RSVP to Karen Reynolds at  or (814) 534-2500.

/ By Lauren Thompson / Cambria County • Workforce Development/ 0 Comments

Safety Conference Provides Key Health and Safety Information for Area Companies

On Tuesday, October 2nd, nearly 150 individuals completed eight hours of health and safety training and earned 0.8 continuing education credits toward their safety committee and professional certifications at the Alleghenies Regional Safety Conference held at the Frank J. Pasquerilla Conference Center.

Thirteen health and safety experts donated their time to offer high-quality workshops on a variety of topics. The information presented will help participants create a safer and healthier work environment.

Many thanks go to the sponsors, speakers and exhibitors for their assistance in making this event a huge success. This year's sponsors include: Titanium - Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield; Gold - Damin Printing Company, North American Höganäs and PHOENIX Rehabilitation and Health Services; Silver - Greater Johnstown Career & Technology Center; and Bronze - S.A. Comunale. For a list of in-kind contributors, vendors and speakers, click here.

Also, a special thank you to the 2018 conference committee: Lauren Brewer, JARI; Daren Cuppett, Ron Donaldson and Kathy Garris, Lockheed Martin AeroParts; George Erisman, Galliker Dairy; Paul Seitz, PHOENIX Rehabilitation and Health Services; Dave Johnson, North American Höganäs and Renee Podlucky.

For more information on the Safety Conference and/or the Safety Industry Partnership, please contact Debi Balog at (814) 262-8366 or via e-mail .