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Biotechnology industries

Pennsylvania Invests in Biotech Workforce Development

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell announced the sixth grant from the $5 million Manufacturing Sector Incumbent Worker Training Program, allocating $400,000 to upgrade the skills of workers in biotech companies in southeast Pennsylvania. The investment aims to secure the biotech industry in the region by ensuring workers are among the best trained in the world. The grant includes $66,000 in private, local matching funds, totaling $466,000 in available training funds.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Manufacturing Sector Incumbent Worker Training Program aims to align training and education to support innovative strategies in manufacturing, enhancing the skills of current workers and boosting revenues of businesses.
  • The program is part of the Rendell Administration's comprehensive strategy to enhance the manufacturing sector in Pennsylvania, building on the success of previous grant programs.
  • The grant will provide training for workers at four Montgomery County biotech firms: NEOSE Technologies, BioRexis Pharmaceutical Corp., Emerson Resources, and Puresyn Inc.
  • The Life Science Career Alliance in Philadelphia and a newly created regional advisory group will manage the grant.
  • The regional advisory group includes local Workforce Investment Boards, biotech businesses, organizations, and education institutions.
  • The long-range objective is to build an educational infrastructure in southeast Pennsylvania to support the human capital development needs of the biotech industry.
  • The life science industry employs over 100,000 people in the region, excluding medical care providers.
  • Pennsylvania is ranked seventh among the leading biotech and life science clusters in the United States by the Milken Institute.

Statistics:

  • $5 million: The total amount allocated for the Manufacturing Sector Incumbent Worker Training Program.
  • $400,000: The amount granted to biotech companies in southeast Pennsylvania.
  • $66,000: The amount of private, local matching funds.
  • $466,000: The available total training funds.
  • 100,000: The number of people employed in the life science industry in the region, excluding medical care providers.
  • 17,000: The number of life sciences professionals attending the BIO 2005 International Convention in Philadelphia.
  • $15 million: The amount proposed by Rendell to expand the incumbent worker training program to high-demand industries outside of the manufacturing sector in the 2005-06 budget.

Sources:

  • Health & Medicine Week editors, "Pennsylvania Announces Sixth Grant from Manufacturing Sector Incumbent Worker Training Program," NewsRx.com, 2005.
  • Copyright 2005, Health & Medicine Week via NewsRx.com.

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