Representatives from Keystone Job Corps and Jim Kelshaw, CAN DO Director of Economic Development and Entrepreneurship, spoke to attendees of the recent Humboldt Park Association meeting about the programs and services available to businesses and industries in Greater Hazleton.

Ross Valenti, business community liaison for the Keystone Job Corps, spoke about the on-the-job training program the Job Corps provides for its students and the need for more business partners to make the program successful. The students learn a trade during their course schedule at the Job Corps and then partner with local industries to receive on-the-job training to practice the skills in a real work environment. This partnership is designed to give the students the skills and credentials they need to start a career upon graduation.

Valenti said, “The Job Corps is a good alternative for those young people who don’t have the financial support for other college education. They receive work-based learning through job shadowing. The business will receive a packet with the student’s training accomplishments so they can be comfortable that they are getting a student who has the skills needed to do the job. All the company has to do is provide the job training opportunity for the student.”

Valenti was joined by co-workers Craig Karchner, career and technical training manager, and Cal Herring, work based learning coordinator. Karchner said that students are trained with an emphasis on the proper social skills, work ethic and other soft skills they need for employment.

The Keystone Job Corps, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, is open to students ages 16-24. The facility in Drums, which is one of 125 Job Corps sites across the country serving 30,000 individuals, has more than 300 students. On-the-job training is available in bricklaying, carpentry, cement masonry, clinical medical assistant, culinary arts, electrical, facilities maintenance, nurse assistant/home health aide, office administration, painting, plastering, plumbing and security and protective services. Valenti said the staff is currently seeking a facility that can provide material handling training. Students study between four and 10 weeks at their externships.

Jim Kelshaw gave a presentation on the variety of business finance options that CAN DO, a Certified Economic Development Organization for Luzerne County, can provide for local businesses. These include Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) loans that are available for a variety of businesses to use for land and building costs, machinery and equipment purchases, working capital lines of credit for operating expenses and accounts receivable lines of credit. Interest rates are currently as low as 2.25 percent and have terms up to 15 years depending on the use of the funds.

For businesses that need a large amount of capital, CAN DO can assist in applying to the Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority (PEDFA) Bond Program, which offers financing with both taxable and tax-exempt options. Recent rates for those bonds are between 3.42 and 3.50 percent.

CAN DO partners with the Governor’s Action Team to help businesses obtain Job Creation Tax Credits (JCTC) and Pennsylvania First funding, Kelshaw said. Job creation tax credits are for companies in Pennsylvania that agree to create at least 25 new jobs or expand the existing workforce by at least 20 percent within three years of the application. PA First is a comprehensive funding tool to facilitate increased investment and job creation within the Commonwealth. Competitive projects must offer substantial economic impact either for the Commonwealth as a whole or for the region in which a business will locate or expand.

Kelshaw said, “If you have business financing or employee needs, CAN DO can assist you with your needs. Make us your first call.”