Grant funding of $1.2 million will support the recruitment and training of nurses across Pennsylvania, state Sen. Maria Collett (D) announced Monday.
The funding for Nursing Pathway Apprenticeship Industry Partnership programs “is a good start,” said Collett, a registered nurse.
Garry Pezzano, president and CEO of LeadingAge PA, told the McKnight’s Business Daily that the money “demonstrates to weary healthcare workers and employers that their needs are being recognized in a meaningful way, and that professional caregivers and nurses are deserving of support.”
The funding, part of the COVID-19 Nursing Workforce Initiative funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, is designed to develop healthcare registered apprenticeship opportunities in communities most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a statement released Monday by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry.
Administered through L&I’s Apprenticeship and Training Office, the money will be given to local workforce development boards — each will receive up to $260,000 — so they can collaborate with community partners, organizations, sponsors and regional industry partnerships to register, maintain and manage nursing apprenticeship programs, as well as to recruit and retain qualified healthcare professionals.
The Pennsylvania Health Care Association is still gathering facts on the grant program, Eric Heisler, the association’s director of communications, told the McKnight’s Business Daily.
“Any funds — no matter the amount — prioritized for healthcare, particularly for long-term care, are ‘wins’ for supporting and sustaining care in Pennsylvania,” Heisler added. “This will enable long-term care to better compete for funds that are more likely to be awarded to health systems that already have healthcare workforce development programs in place.”
The funding will support registered apprenticeships April 2023 through June 2026. Applications to [email protected] are due Nov. 30.
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