Maritime Training Initiative Announced
(Delaware and Chester Counties, PA • December 7, 2018)—Hundreds of current and future workers within Greater Philadelphia’s growing maritime industry will have access to specialized training programs under a new initiative announced today by Citizens Bank, the Collegiate Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development, PhilaPort and Philadelphia Works.
Representatives from the four organizations gathered at the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal in South Philadelphia to announce the creation of the Citizens Bank Regional Maritime Training Center—a first-of-its-kind workforce development initiative that will provide formal, enhanced training opportunities, such as forklift certification and recertification, yard jockey training and OSHA safety training. The center is being funded through a $100,000 contribution from Citizens Bank and a mix of public and private sources.
“We’d like to thank Citizens Bank, PhilaPort and Philadelphia Works for providing the support necessary to launch this pioneering initiative,” said Dr. L. Joy Gates Black, President of Delaware County Community College and Chair of the Collegiate Consortium. “The curriculum that we develop for the center will formalize the training process for these jobs, which until now had been handed down through generational knowledge.”
The Collegiate Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development, which includes Bucks County Community College, Camden County College, Community College of Philadelphia, Delaware County Community College, Montgomery County Community College and Drexel University, will develop curriculum for training at the new center.
“Assuring that we have a well-trained, safe and inclusive workforce available for our growing Port economy is an important investment for Citizens Bank,” said Daniel K. Fitzpatrick, President of Citizens Bank, Mid-Atlantic Region. “We are honored to team up with such wonderful partners to provide the Greater Philadelphia area with its first formalized training center for Port employees.”
The Citizens Bank Regional Maritime Training Center will be located at a former PhilaPort-owned overflow facility at 61st Street and Essington Avenue in South Philadelphia. Initial funding will support the purchase of a portable classroom trailer, line striping on site for obstacle training, heavy equipment rentals and purchase of palletized mock cargo for applied training. Partners estimate 200 new and existing workers will take advantage of the center’s programs during its first year of operations.
“I applaud Citizens Bank, the Collegiate Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development, PhilaPort and Philadelphia Works for launching this unique partnership,” said Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney. “This investment in the port will not only provide family-sustaining jobs for Philadelphia residents, but will help continue to position our region as a global leader in the maritime industry.” Mayor Kenney was unable to attend the announcement today because of the sudden passing of his father on Tuesday.
Philadelphia Works, the city’s workforce development board, will help fund and oversee training services at the center, as well as support grant writing for additional public and private funding.
“A trained workforce is a safe workforce,” said H. Patrick Clancy, President and CEO, Philadelphia Works. “Philadelphia Works’ mission is to ensure all Philadelphia residents have an opportunity to receive the training and support they need to find a career that works. This program is a great example of diverse stakeholders coming together to create a pipeline of qualified workers to fill the jobs of tomorrow, which is a pillar of the Citywide Workforce Development Strategy. We congratulate the Collegiate Consortium and thank Citizens Bank for this critical private support.”
The Philadelphia ports serve one of the most densely populated areas in the country, with approximately 27 million people located within 100 miles. PhilaPort is the independent agency charged with managing and maintaining port facilities along the Delaware River in Pennsylvania and is a critical partner in this initiative.
“A 21st Century port requires a 21st Century approach to training our workers,” said Jeff Theobald, Executive Director and CEO, PhilaPort. “We’ve seen tremendous growth at the port in recent years and we hope this partnership will help that growth continue, allowing us to remain competitive while keeping our workers safe.”
The Citizens Bank Regional Maritime Training Center is expected to begin providing programming in 2019.
About the Collegiate Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development
Established in 1994 as the Shipyard College to provide education and training to displaced workers of the closing Philadelphia Naval Base and Shipyard, the organization initially was comprised of three area community colleges (Delaware County Community College and Community College of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania and Camden County College in New Jersey) and one university to leverage the region’s expertise in various areas of training. Several years later, the organization was renamed to its present moniker and expanded to include two additional community colleges (Bucks County Community College and Montgomery County Community College in Pennsylvania), bringing the total to five community colleges and one university. This collaboration of institutions of higher education serves the needs of regional employers to upgrade the skills of incumbent workers as well as to provide training to new hires. To date, over 20,000 area workers have been served.
About Citizens Financial Group, Inc.
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is one of the nation’s oldest and largest financial institutions, with $158.6 billion in assets as of September 30, 2018. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, Citizens offers a broad range of retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, large corporations and institutions. Citizens helps its customers reach their potential by listening to them and by understanding their needs in order to offer tailored advice, ideas and solutions. In Consumer Banking, Citizens provides an integrated experience that includes mobile and online banking, a 24/7 customer contact center and the convenience of approximately 2,900 ATMs and approximately 1,150 branches in 11 states in the New England, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions. Consumer Banking products and services include a full range of banking, lending, savings, wealth management and small business offerings. In Commercial Banking, Citizens offers corporate, institutional and not-for-profit clients a full range of wholesale banking products and services, including lending and deposits, capital markets, treasury services, foreign exchange and interest rate products and asset finance. More information is available at www.citizensbank.com or visit us on Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook.
About Philadelphia Works
Philadelphia Works is the city’s Workforce Development Board, investing in solutions and services to grow Philadelphia’s economy by connecting employers to workforce talent and career seekers to jobs. We influence the public policies that support economic growth, and optimize funding and resources to invest in regional solutions to build a skilled and thriving workforce.
Photo Caption (from left): Leo Holt, president of Holt Logistics; Daniel Fitzpatrick, president of Citizens Bank, Mid-Atlantic Region; Delaware County Community College President Dr. L. Joy Gates Black, who also is chair of the Collegiate Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development; H. Patrick Clancy, president/CEO Philadelphia Works, Inc.; and Philadelphia Deputy Mayor of Labor Richard Lazer.
