The Pittsburgh Foundation

Career Advancement Economic Mobility

Army veteran Terrance Cook works in the crating department at TAKTL in Turtle Creek. When Terrance needed a second job to support his family, Pittsburgh Hires Veterans located a nearby employer and made the connection.
Army veteran Terrance Cook works in the crating department at TAKTL in Turtle Creek. When Terrance needed a second job to support his family, Pittsburgh Hires Veterans located a nearby employer and made the connection.

A 2018 report by the Allegheny Conference on Community Development predicted a potential worker shortfall of 80,000 by 2025 due to retirements and slow job creation. These projections intensify the need to focus on systemic changes in career preparation in the K-12 educational system, and to target training opportunities to incumbent and  Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) workers who have persistently lower median yearly earnings and higher levels of unemployment. Technology is reshaping virtually every occupation at a rapid rate, changing the skills students must have and driving the need for continuous upskilling of incumbent workers. Additionally, all workers will need to increase their digital fluency and acquire "soft" skills such as communications, problem-solving and customer service. 

We are specifically interested in activities that:

  • Offer entry-level and advanced technology training with career potential for women and BIPOC individuals.
  • Support partnerships where employers have helped develop training curriculum and industry recognized credentials, are invested in and committed to training and hiring diverse talent for a variety of occupations, and provide career advancement support and opportunity.    
  • Support collaboration between the public workforce system, industry partners and school districts to update and implement state mandated K-12 career readiness standards and curriculum.
GRANT CYCLE APPLICATION DEADLINES
Spring grant cycle March 24, 2023 by noon
(for funding decision by June 14)
Fall grant cycle July 18, 2023 by 5 p.m.
(for funding decision by Nov. 1)

Grant Guidelines   How to apply

Jamillia Kamara

 

CONTACT: 
Jane Downing
Senior Program Officer, Economic and Community Development
downingj [at] pghfdn.org (downingj[at]pghfdn[dot]org)
 

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