Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order earlier this week that created a $400 million training program that will prepare up to 10,000 Pennsylvania workers for jobs created by federal infrastructure investments, writes Paul J. Gough for the Philadelphia Business Journal.

Grants awarded by the Commonwealth Workforce Transformation Program are designed to provide companies, contractors, and unions with up to $40,000 per new employee who has been trained to work on a project that is funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act or the Inflation Reduction Act.

According to Shapiro, the new program has been developed in concert with the Biden administration and is the first such program in the country. It will put aside three percent of the federal infrastructure funding allocated to Pennsylvania for training for new workers, especially those from underserved communities.

The program will also address the needs of companies, unions, and other stakeholders who are having trouble finding enough workers to be able to quickly and efficiently fill infrastructure-related jobs.

“We have a moment we must seize,” said Shapiro.

Read more about the workforce training program in the Philadelphia Business Journal.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro Holds Briefing to Highlight Workers Training Program.