Community Action Partnership of Mercer County (CAPMC) as the grantee for the Whole Home Repair Program (WHRP) is making a Workforce Development Investment and awarding $300,000 to Laurel Technical Institute (LTI). Eligible students enrolled in the Electrical Technician program will be provided with a $7500 tuition scholarship to be used to reduce their tuition debt. The partnership with Laurel Technical Institute will provide electrical training, apprenticeships, and job placement through committed employer partnerships related to improving the habitability and performance of homes.
In March of 2023, Community Action Partnership of Mercer County (CAPMC) became the recipient of $1,409,640 to implement the Whole Home Repair Program (WHRP) funded through the PA Department of Development. There are two major prongs to the program, Home Repairs and Workforce Development. CAPMC distributed 300 applications across Mercer County and has received 180 applications from homeowners who are in need of repairs to their homes.
Eligible homeowners can receive up to $50,000 in repairs (not remodeling) to their homes, repairs must bring the property up to standards and correct any existing deficiencies or hazards. The goal is to make the house habitable, improve energy and efficiency, and/or improve accessibility to or within the home. Currently there are 3 completed homes and 21 that are in the process of completion.
Funding for this project is provided by the PA Department of Development Whole Home Repair Program to invest in workforce development programs that will connect trainees to training, apprenticeships and jobs through committed employer partnerships related to improving the habitability and performance of homes.
Wilma Torres, the CEO of CAPMC, states that the investment in LTI’s students will help to reduce the debt burden as they graduate and go into the workforce. “We need to share interest and retention of not only college students but those in the trades to grow and stay in Mercer County, these talents are often forgotten but they prove to be a part of the foundation of a City or Counties existence.”
LTI’s 16-month Electrical Technician program provides education and training for future industry trade professionals in Hermitage and surrounding areas. Enrolled students gain skill in Residential Wiring, Low Voltage Wiring, and develop an understanding for maintenance and installation. “Electricians are in demand now more than ever. We live in a world where the demand for blue collar jobs is growing, so the need for training is higher. This opportunity is a great way to offer education to eligible students in an area where jobs are available. ” says Justin Caldwell, Laurel’s Director of Trades.
Laurel has a well-equipped lab space spanning 2,000 sq feet at the Hermitage campus, along with additional theory classrooms, that students utilize throughout the program to prepare them for equipment repair and installation, certifications, and critical thinking. Students begin skill development within the first semester of the Electrical Technician program, allowing for more hands-on productivity and understanding. “American tradesman, Mike Rowe, recently stated that in the last ten years, for every five tradesmen that retire, only two replace them, ” states Douglas Decker, Executive Vice President of Operations of Laurel Institutes, “we think that presents a great need for educated workers in the skilled trades sector. Laurel’s goal is to become part of the fabric in the communities we serve to build sustainable educational programming that meets the needs of both the employers and our graduates. The investment that Community Action Partnership of Mercer County (CAPMC) is making for current and future students is so important.”