GRANTEE:                   Chester County Economic Development Council

ADDRESS:                  737 Constitution Drive

                             Exton, PA 19341        

AMOUNT:                    $3,000,000

DURATION:                January 5, 2004 - January 5, 2007 (36 months)

POPULATION SERVED:  This project will serve 635 (approximately 600 incumbent workers and 35 unemployed workers) in the high technology Information Technology (IT) field, specifically in the categories of Consultant, Software, Network, Web, Systems, Technical and Quality Assurance (QA).  The training will be primarily in Pennsylvania but will also target partner’s branches in Nebraska and Massachusetts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION:  This project will focus on satisfying the needs of the partnered employers by surveying each employer to determine what their needs are and in what amount those needs are present.  Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC) will then compile this information and award money to the highest rated requests.  The highest requests will be those that have the most well defined plans for the employees after training is complete (i.e.  promotions or salary increases).  This will allow the smaller partner companies to take advantage of specific group training, allowing for quicker turnaround and more visible results. 

Partnering employers agree to match the training cost of each individual 100 percent.  This, in combination with in-kind match of facilities and donated time from training partners and administrative entities, will provide a total match of $3,121,853. 

Partnering companies will reduce their dependency on foreign skilled workers from 25 percent – 100 percent.  The incumbent workers are expected to receive promotions and wage increases (ranging from five percent to 15 percent), moving them into positions currently filled by foreign skilled labor.  The unemployed trainees will be hired into the positions vacated by incumbent trainees. 

CCEDC, the training providers, and the partnering employers will select trainees based on the following criteria: 1) position level within the company; 2) projected outcome of training (salary increase or promotion); 3) level of IT skills; need and capacity for H-1B level training; 4) American citizen; 5) bachelor’s degree or higher, prior or current IT certification; and 6) veteran status.

KEY PARTICIPANTS:  Chester County Economic Development Council, Chester County WIB, MVM associates, Chester County Alliance, Information Technology Action Group, Springhouse, Analytical Graphics, Automated Financial Services, CareerLink, Delaware County Community College, Full Tilt Solutions, Iron Mountain, Kenexa Technologies, Medical Broadcasting Company, Primavera, Sanchez, Sintaks, Springhouse, Vertex, Vis.align. 

MEDIA CONTACT:     Michael Grigalonis

                           (610) 458-5700 x214