About the Partnership

Newsletter  

Action Plan 

Download the NEPA Logistics & Transportation Action Plan 2007

How It All Began 

There has been a significant growth in both logistics and transportation firms in the Northeastern Pennsylvania region over the past several years spurred by the relative geographic location of this region to major metropolitan areas on the east coast. Existing companies were expanding while new companies were being established creating a demand for qualified employees.

Through industry feedback, it was determined that identifying, training and retaining a qualified workforce was the main challenge. A challenge that could best be met through collaboration.

The Logistics & Transportation Industry Partnership:

In early 2005, the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry partnered with the Luzerne/Schuylkill Workforce Investment Board, Inc. and met with Luzerne County Community College and Penn State Wilkes-Barre to address the needs of the Logistics & Transportation Industry. By September of that year, representatives from the organizations began the process of identifying and bringing industry partners together.

Representatives from local Logistics and Transportation companies identified the most critical educational and training needs and shared information on occupation shortages, skill gaps and challenges to remain competitive and capable of growth in Northeastern PA.

Most of October 2005 was spent working on the parameters of the industry cluster and writing the incumbent worker and the industry partnership grant applications.

In January 2006, official word was received from the state that both grants would be funded. Soon thereafter, development began on the creation of the Northeast PA Logistics & Transportation Industry Partnership.

In August 2006, a Report to the Community was held to highlight the creation of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Logistics & Transportation Industry Partnership and to announce their new image campaign, People on the Move.

The partnership then conducted a Training Needs Assessment and an Industry Analysis, developed a Career Pathways Model and designed an industry specific website.

The Training Needs Assessment outlines the utmost needs in terms of people and educational training required by the Logistics and Transportation Industries.

The Partnership hired the Wadley-Donovan Group to conduct a SWOT analysis of the industry in the area. The SWOT highlighted and pinpointed where the Partnership needs to focus its efforts.

The Career Pathways Model assists in both recruiting and training by outlining five major career paths in the industry and provides information about the skills, education and training needed to achieve success along those paths. The Model provides direction to educational institutions, PA CareerLinks, workforce and economic development organizations, employers and chambers of commerce as they work to assist job seekers and to establish and expand businesses in the area.

The website was developed to provide information to those interested in a career within the Logistics and Transportation Industries. Also, companies can learn about the benefits of joining the Partnership, find specific industry research and have access to valuable resources.

In January 2007, The Northeast PA Logistics and Transportation Industry Partnership held another, “Report to the Community II: Directions” event. This event celebrated and discussed the launch of the Northeast PA Logistics & Transportation Industry Partnership website, announced the results of a regional industry analysis and the initiatives that are in place to address recommendations and announced an implementation strategy for the Logistics & Transportation Career Pathway Model.

Representatives from the industry, economic and workforce development, chambers of commerce and educational institutions in the Luzerne, Schuylkill, Lackawanna, Northern Tier and Pocono counties were in attendance. The event highlighted the positive impact the Northeast PA Logistics & Transportation Industry Partnership has had on local companies and their employees, and it also explained the partnership’s plans for the future.

In March, 2007, the Luzerne/Schuylkill Workforce Investment Board, Inc. received an additional $114,000 in funding for continued development of the Northeastern PA Logistics & Transportation Partnership and an additional $155,000 for Incumbent Worker Training.

Back to Top

Goals 

The Partnership’s goal is to align economic and workforce development programs to meet the skill needs of logistics and transportation industry companies; the career goals of workers; and to attract and retain quality employers in the Northeastern Pennsylvania region. In order to achieve this, all in involved in the Partnership will work as one to formalize the process, better align the services that are provided and more completely meet the specific needs of the industry cluster.

Back to Top

Funding Sources 

The Luzerne/Schuylkill Workforce Investment Board received a $150,000 Industry Partnership Grant which provided seed money to create the Northeast PA Logistics and Transportation Industry Partnership. This grant allows the Partnership the opportunity to develop a better relationship with schools and businesses in order to educate and recruit a technically advanced workforce into the logistics and transportation industry.

A $400,000 Incumbent Worker Training Grant was issued to the Luzerne/Schuylkill Workforce Investment Board, which will allow the Partnership to provide instructional services to current logistics and transportation employees. This grant will allow the Partnership to ensure that the industry’s existing employees are current on all the necessary skills required for their positions.

In March, 2007, the Luzerne/Schuylkill Workforce Investment Board, Inc. received an additional $114,000 in funding for continued development of the Northeastern PA Logistics & Transportation Partnership and $155,000 for Incumbent Worker Training. This funding will go to strengthening the logistics and transportation segment of Northeastern Pennsylvania as well as to help improve the skills of those employed in the industry.

Back to Top

What Is the Luzerne/Schuylkill Workforce Investment Board, Inc.? 

Luzerne/Schuylkill Workforce Investment Board, Inc. was created as the result of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA), which created the opportunity for new and innovative approaches to workforce development within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Luzerne/Schuylkill Workforce Investment Board, Inc. offers the opportunity for significant change and unprecedented cooperation between public and private sectors in supporting Pennsylvania’s workforce development. The ultimate goal is to ensure that Pennsylvania possesses a world-class workforce capable of meeting the present and future labor demands of Pennsylvania’s workers and businesses. For information on the Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Act, visit the official web site at www.paworkforce.state.pa.us

The Luzerne/Schuylkill Workforce Investment Board, Inc. offers employers a variety of services in partnership with Team Pennsylvania CareerLink, including:

Every community is served by at least one Workforce Investment Board, some by more than one. The Workforce Investment Boards in the Northeastern Pennsylvania region are:

Northern Tier (Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga and Wyoming)

Frank Thompson, Executive Director
312 Main St.
Towanda, PA 18848

570-265-9103
thompson@northerntier.org

Luzerne/Schuylkill

Paul E. O’Malia, Executive Director
32 E. Union St.
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701

570-822-1101
paulomalia@lswib.org

Pocono (Carbon/Monroe/Pike/Wayne)

Joseph Sebelin, Executive Director
76 Susquehanna St., Suite 1
Jim Thorpe, PA 18229

570-325-2462
jsebelin@ptd.net

Lackawanna

Virginia Turano, Executive Director
Scranton Enterprise Center
201 Lackawanna Ave.

Scranton, PA 18503
570-342-3649

Back to Top

Announcements and Press Information 

Press Releases

Back to Top