Political Action

Workforce Investment Board

The Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board is engaging in a statewide advocacy campaign to support the Governor’s proposal to maintain funding for Industry Partnerships, and we need your help. We need employers and unions who are participating in an industry partnership to call the offices of your state representatives

Timeline: Phone calls and emails are needed immediately (today if possible).

Issue:  State legislators are now entering into discussions on the State Budget for the 2008-09 fiscal year, that must be in place by July 1, 2008. As part of this budget process, legislators will be considering funding for Industry Partnerships.  Although, Governor Rendell recommended continued funding for Industry Partnerships, it is important that employer and union partners lend their voice to convey the importance and relevance of these funds in developing our workforce. 

Action:  To ensure that Industry Partnership funding remains level, we are participating in a major phone and email campaign to let elected officials know how important these dollars are to Philadelphia.  Your voice in these efforts would make a tremendous difference.  To help us in this campaign, please:

• Using the talking points listed below, call State Representatives Dwight Evans (Democratic Appropriations Committee Chairman) and Dennis O’Brien (House Speaker) to communicate the importance of maintaining funding for Industry Partnerships. 

State Representative Dwight Evans Harrisburg Office: (717) 783-1540; Philadelphia Office: (215) 549-0220

Dennis O’Brien Harrisburg Office: (717) 787-4610; Philadelphia Office: (215) 632-5150

• Contact your local representatives to keep them informed.

• Please notify me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. so that I can report to our state partners. 

Below are key points that should be made when calling Reps. Evans and O’Brien and other legislators:

• Thank you for your past support of Industry Partnership and Industry Partnership Worker Training funding.

• Through this funding, our company has been able to… [local, positive statistics].

[Example: trained XX employees, identify training needs to address skill gaps, increase productivity by XX percent, improve employee retention]

·         Pennsylvania’s new workforce development system is working – connecting workforce training and education programs to the critical needs of industry.

• In order to continue the great work of Industry Partnerships, we ask that you support the funding of workforce development programs, in particular Industry Partnerships and training activities, in the 2008-09 budget

Thank you in advance for your assistance!  Please contact me if you have any questions

Stu

Stuart Bass

Director Keystone Development Partnership

731 S. Broad St.

Philadelphia, PA 19147

work:  215-732-7476 ext. 21

fax:    215-732-7479

cell:   215-284-4218

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.kdpworks.org

www.keystonetransit.org