PHILADELPHIA, March 14, 2023 – One week after Gov. Josh Shapiro unveiled his 2023-24 budget proposal, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis visited The Wistar Institute in Philadelphia to tout the investments the Shapiro-Davis budget would make toward workforce development.
“The governor and I are sending a clear message that Pennsylvania is open for business and that we are going to make our state a leader in innovation, job creation, and economic development,” said Davis. “Pennsylvania’s high-tech sectors – like the life science sector in Philadelphia – make huge contributions to our state’s economic growth. However, worker shortages are one of the biggest challenges we must address in the coming years. That’s why the Shapiro-Davis budget would invest nearly $24 million in new state funding to build partnerships between career and technical education and industries, trades, and entities that need highly skilled workers. The Wistar Institute’s pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs are great examples of how government can collaborate with industry and academic institutions to help create a diverse pipeline of talent to fulfill our Commonwealth’s workforce needs.”
Through his $23.8 million proposed investment in apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, the governor’s budget is addressing the workforce shortage head-on and creating real opportunities for workers across the Commonwealth.
Expanding apprenticeships boosts the Commonwealth’s economy by building robust pipelines between schools and the workforce, providing students with family-sustaining wages–while providing Pennsylvania businesses with the talent they need to succeed. The Shapiro-Davis Administration has a comprehensive plan to invest in apprenticeship programs, expand vo-tech and bring career and technical education back into our classrooms.
“Our Wistar educational mission is to create opportunities for all – students and adult learners from all backgrounds – to train for and land a life sciences career in this growing sector,” said Wistar Institute President and CEO Dr. Dario Altieri. “We’ve seen firsthand the impact our training programs have to open up a new career path in the sciences, bolster workforce development opportunities in a growing sector of our economy and create the next gen life sciences workers and leaders right here in our own backyard.”
