Wolf Urges Multibillion-Dollar Workforce Training Program to Help Workers Affected by the Pandemic

The Pittsburgh Business Times reports that Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has announced plans for a refreshed workforce development program worth several billion dollars to help workers, businesses, and the economy rebound from the pandemic. The revised effort would concentrate on a strategic investment to aid workers who have been most affected by layoffs and tackle inequalities for people of color, the disabled, lower-wage employees, and those in certain targeted industries. "Pennsylvanians face a lot of barriers in life, now more than ever, obviously because of the COVID pandemic," Wolf declared Thursday. The plan requires approval by the GOP-led General Assembly during the budget process that begins officially Feb. 2 with Wolf's yearly budget address. The state said the effort would take guidance from the Keystone Economic Development and Workforce Command Center report issued earlier in January. Wolf intends to underwrite the program by imposing a severance tax on Pennsylvania's natural gas industry, which the General Assembly has long opposed. The governor said community colleges and other training initiatives are set up for workforce training and would also use proceeds from a severance tax.