WEDnetPA - Workforce and Economic Development Network of Pennsylvania

Growing Pennsylvania’s workforce starts by putting down good roots, and workforce development grants like WEDnetPA - Workforce and Economic Development Network of Pennsylvania help make it happen. ?? Located in Gardners, PA, Rice Fruit Company isn’t just packing apples – it's packing potential! With the help of? WEDnetPA funding, this family-owned business is making major strides in upskilling its employees. In partnership with HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College, they’re delivering customized training programs to strengthen skills and secure the future success of both the company and its employees.? Check out the full story from WEDnetPA: https://lnkd.in/gWjdv9_M?

Who doesn't love the smell of fresh roasted coffee? ?? We do! Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC. is a PA-based, family-owned coffee roaster and manufacturer located in Sunbury, PA. Since 2009, Andrew Oakes has worked tirelessly to quickly scale his coffee roasting business from one roaster in his garage, to the 84,000 square ft manufacturing powerhouse it is today. Within the walls of what once was the historic Sunbury Textile Mill, Fresh Roasted Coffee runs three shifts on 36 different machines - producing roasted coffee, coffee pods, espresso capsules, single-use sachets, organic teas, functional botanicals and so much more! At the forefront of the company’s mission and values, is its commitment to sustainability - from energy efficiency and reduced carbon emissions, to ethical sourcing, and of course, employee growth and retention.???? Thanks to the help of Alexandra Lehman at Pennsylvania College of Technology and the WEDnetPA grant, they can further invest in their future by providing additional training to keep employees at the forefront of everything from roasting coffee to digital marketing to sales. WEDnetPA - Workforce and Economic Development Network of Pennsylvania is funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development. Katelinne Harner, Communications and Marketing Coordinator said, “The WEDnetPA grant has been essential in empowering our teams at Fresh Roasted Coffee. Through this funding, our employees have been able to expand their expertise, develop new skills, and gain invaluable knowledge that supports both their professional growth and the sustained success of our business. Partnering with Pennsylvania College of Technology has allowed us to invest in our workforce in meaningful ways, ensuring they have the tools and training needed to excel in their careers and continue driving innovation within our company.”

Rice Fruit Company, a family-owned fruit-packing?business nestled in the heart of Pennsylvania’s apple country, is taking bold steps to build a stronger workforce. With support from HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College, the company has tapped into WEDnetPA funding to boost their team’s technical and durable workforce skills, ensuring they're ready for the future of the industry. Rice Fruit Farm offers a diverse range of training to their employees, from highly customized programs and forklift certification to electrical fundamentals and teamwork development. Agriculture is crucial to Pennsylvania’s economy, as outlined in the state's 10-Year Strategic Plan for Economic Development. By leveraging WEDnetPA funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development, Rice Fruit Company is investing in the future of its employees and the state’s agricultural industry. They are in good company, as thousands of other Pennsylvania companies committed to workforce development that have applied for WEDnetPA funding over the last 26 years. Alexandra Roberts, VP Culture & Compliance at Rice Fruit Company shared her excitement about the partnership: “The WEDnetPA grant has been instrumental in supporting our workforce development initiatives with funding to offer employees the tools and skills needed to thrive in today’s workplace. The strong partnership between Rice Fruit Company and HACC was fundamental in identifying tailored and strategic educational training that will equip our workforce for long-term success. We value this collaboration with HACC and look forward to continuing to grow our workforce development programs." By investing in their people and in Pennsylvania’s agricultural future, Rice Fruit Company is setting the stage for continued growth, all while strengthening the community and industry they call home.

We commemorate the 26th anniversary of WEDnetPA - Workforce and Economic Development Network of Pennsylvania, a milestone achieved with gratitude to the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development for their continued investment strategy in retaining top talent and companies in Pennsylvania. WEDnetPA's core objective remains the retention of Pennsylvania companies and their workforce by providing targeted resources to meet their continuous upskilling requirements. With nearly 1.5 million workers trained across 25,000 companies to date, the impact is significant. Recent exciting developments include the unveiling of a new logo, a revamped website, and substantial progress on a cutting-edge application and invoicing system powered by Salesforce. Check out our latest annual report! https://lnkd.in/eHcJW96E