Rebuilding Pennsylvania's Economic Might: Capitalizing on our Strengths and Investing in our Workforce

By Allyson Y. Schwartz

To rebuild our state's economy, Allyson Schwartz will capitalize on Pennsylvania assets, promote business growth, raise the minimum wage, and reinvest in worker training.

Allyson Schwartz knows that job growth and workforce training are the two sides of economic development.

As part of her initiatives for workers, Schwartz will:

Launch Apprenticeship PA. -- She will launch Apprenticeship PA, a program to double the number of worker-trainees enrolled in registered apprenticeship programs from 10,000 to 20,000. Since apprenticeship training requires a significant, multi-year commitment by both workers and employers, Schwartz will offer a 50 percent tax credit for every dollar an employer contributes to a program. She will offer an additional employer tax credit when an apprentice completes a program and is hired by the enrolled employer as a journeyed worker.

Re-launch Industry Partnerships -- Pennsylvania's IP program is one of the most effective means of bringing together employers in targeted industries to provide joint training for workers, often in partnership with local Workforce Investment Boards.Schwartz will more than triple the currently inadequate state support for Industry Partnerships.

Reinvest in Community Colleges and Career and Technical Education -- Our community colleges and career and technical schools are key partners in apprenticeship programs, Industry Partnerships and other types of workforce training. To enhance career education, Schwartz will reinvest in our community colleges and career and technical education.

Consolidate Job Training Programs -- Over the years, Harrisburg has created a whole raft of job training programs, some effective and some not. Schwartz, as governor, will streamline the Commonwealth's workforce programs and consolidate what works under a single office within the Department of Labor and Industry. One of its goals will be to increase the participation of minorities and women in training programs in traditional industries.

Fight for Equal Pay for Equal Work -- Right now, according to the National Partnership For Women & Families, women in Pennsylvania are paid just 77 cents on average for every dollar paid to men. As a result, a woman working full-time makes $37,957 per year on average, while a man makes nearly $48,000. This is unacceptable. As Pennsylvania's first female governor, Schwartz will keep up the fight to make sure men and women are treated equally in the workplace.

Give Pennsylvanians a Raise -- As governor, Allyson Schwartz will build on her work in Congress and push to increase Pennsylvania's minimum wage to $10.10 and index it to inflation. This will lift wages for an estimated 721,000 workers and benefit businesses by putting more money in the pockets of their customers. Increasing the minimum wage is especially important for women. In 2012, women comprised 66 percent of the 195,000 Pennsylvania workers who earned the federal minimum wage of $7.25 or less.

As part of her initiatives for growing jobs, Schwartz will:

Launch a Manufacturing Renaissance -- She will work to launch a manufacturing renaissance. She will establish Invest PA, a $30 million capitalized loan pool to provide manufacturers and other businesses with access to growth capital.

Build Pennsylvania's Innovation Economy -- Schwartz will bolster Pennsylvania's innovation economy by offering a new Governor's Award for Excellence in Innovation, a $1 million prize to encourage Pennsylvania's best and brightest to turn their research into new products and companies. She will also increase support for Ben Franklin Technology Partners, a model economic development initiative focused on investing in early-stage technology companies, and for the three Life Science Greenhouses. And, she will expand the Commonwealth's Research and Development Tax Credit, targeted particularly toward startups and new, innovative growth industries.

Grow Small Businesses -- The Schwartz plan to boost small business growth in the Commonwealth includes expanding the job creation tax credit, reducing healthcare costs for employers, and boosting startups in growing sectors such as energy.

Ensure Pennsylvanians Benefit from the Marcellus Shale -- Schwartz will ensure that all Pennsylvanians profit from the Marcellus Shale by enacting a moderate 5 percent gas severance tax to support transformational investments in the Commonwealth's future. She will prioritize the development of "downstream" businesses, and create and implement a plan to expand job opportunities for Pennsylvanians in the shale industry.

Promote Pennsylvania Agriculture -- To enhance agriculture and food production, Schwartz will provide stronger support for Penn State Extension, which offers unbiased research and technical expertise. She will revive the First Industries Fund to provide planning grants, construction and acquisition loans, and loan guarantees.

Support the Transition to a Clean Energy Economy -- Schwartz will support Pennsylvania's transition to the clean energy economy by enhancing our Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard to require that 30 percent of electricity comes from clean, renewable sources by 2030. This "30 by 30″ goal is ambitious but achievable, and it will expand job opportunities, attract new businesses, reduce carbon emissions, and make Pennsylvania a national leader in renewable energy.