Lehigh and Montgomery are among the 16 counties in Pennsylvania receiving an investment from the Shapiro Administration to support registered pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs in the building and construction trades.

The total investment across the counties is more than $1.5 million and will help expand job opportunities, build diverse talent, and reach underrepresented and underserved populations, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) announced.

“The Shapiro Administration is committed to investing in opportunities for people of all backgrounds to reach their full potential in the workforce, no matter which path they take,” L&I Secretary Nancy Walker said in a statement. “This investment in Pennsylvania’s workforce will ultimately help set workers up for success by equipping them with the skills they need for these in-demand jobs. This funding is yet another example of the administration’s continued commitment to uplifting and investing in all members of our workforce.”

According to a release, the Shapiro Administration has increased annual funding for workforce development initiatives statewide – including apprenticeships, career and technical education (CTE), and vocational-technical programs – by nearly $65 million over its first two budgets, a more than 50 percent increase over funding in the 2022-23 budget.

Lehigh and Montgomery are among the counties receiving $250,000 in grant funding to support the Construction Apprentice Preparatory Program (CAPP), a training program, primarily focused on preparing women and minorities in underserved communities for acceptance into any of the trades in the construction industry. CAPP combines math, reading comprehension, resume writing, financial literacy, introduction to tools, along with workforce development skills to help participants succeed in the construction industry.

Per a Women in Apprenticeship report released by the U.S. Department of Labor, in FY 2023, women represented just under 15% of active registered apprentices. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, women in 2023 made up less than 11% of the construction industry. L&I’s investment seeks to create career pathways for populations underrepresented in the trades, including women, people of color, individuals with disabilities, veterans, socio-economic disadvantaged individuals, individuals who speak English as a second language, individuals who were previously incarcerated, or experiencing barriers to employment.