Pennsylvania Schools-to-Work Grant Enables Delaware County Community College to Offer Free Tuition to Carpentry and Electrical Students
(Delaware and Chester Counties, PA - August 7, 2023)—As Delaware and Chester Counties are facing extreme labor shortages in the carpentry and electrical trades, Delaware County Community College has been awarded a two-year, $235,898 Schools-to-Work grant by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry. The grant will enable the College to waive tuition, fees and book costs for up to 60 high school juniors and seniors and post-secondary students interested in a skilled trade career path, creating equitable access to education and apprenticeships.
The College’s new Pre-Apprenticeships to Apprenticeships for Carpenters and Electricians, Plus (PACE+) Project is a collaborative involving local unions, employers, and Delaware County’s Workforce Development Board, Technical Schools and Commerce Center, among other partners. There are a projected 517 annual openings through 2028 for entry level carpenters and electricians in Delaware and Chester Counties with average annual salaries of $59,935 (carpentry) and $78,185 (electrician), according to a 2022 report by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry. The required education for both occupations is long-term, on-the-job training, which will be provided by PACE+.
Through PACE+, Delaware County Community College and its partners will provide instruction, technical education, hands-on learning and real-world industry training in carpentry and electrical occupations, all deemed high priority in both Delaware and Chester Counties. This will include Pre-Apprenticeship programs and outreach developed with women and underrepresented groups in mind. PACE+ will advance students from Pre-Apprenticeships to Apprenticeships, and students also can pursue an industry-recognized Certificate of Competency and an Associate in Applied Science degree.
When high school-aged PACE+ students receive their high school diplomas, they can complete the remaining credits at the College to earn the Certificate of Competency and immediately enter full-time employment, or pursue an Associate in Applied Science degree. The college tuition costs and fees for the latter will be fully funded through the College’s existing Kelleher Connect Career Opportunity Fund, which supports students in select technical education certificate programs who plan to advance directly into the local workforce following graduation. Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis. For more information about Delaware County Community College’s PACE+ Project, please contact Amy Antrim 610-325-2819 or aantrim@dccc.edu.
