PA · State Grant

Pennsylvania State Training Grants for Employers

Pennsylvania's state training grant for employers is WEDnetPA: reimbursement of up to $2,000 per employee and $50,000 per company for eligible workers, limited in 2026-27 to five priority industries. PA First can also fund job training as part of a larger job-creating project, with a private match; its published guidelines are dated 2018, so confirm current terms with DCED. Other state training money goes to schools, nonprofits and workforce boards, and employers take part as partners.

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State pre-filled: PA
Program type pre-filled: state_training_grant

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HOW IT WORKS

Four steps, in this order.

1
Find the program that fits: WEDnetPA for current staff, PA First for a larger project
2
Check industry and job requirements before you apply
3
Apply through the partner college or DCED's Enterprise eGrants system
4
Train, document, and claim payment

4 VERIFIED PROGRAMS

Where the Pennsylvania money comes from.

Run by PA Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED). Every figure is from an official page, linked on each card.

WEDnetPA

Up to $2,000 per employee

OPEN, COMPETITIVE

WHAT YOU GET

Reimbursement of training for current full-time employees who earn at least $17.31 an hour.

HOW MUCH

Maximum $2,000 per employee and $50,000 per FEIN. Two years in a row or three of five.

WHO RECEIVES THE MONEY

The company, by reimbursement after documented training.

WHO QUALIFIES

Company in an eligible priority industry and mostly industrial or business-to-business
Employee works in Pennsylvania, full-time with healthcare benefits
Training July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027

Before you start: Yes. Apply and get a contract. Invoice within 45 days of each training event.

Pennsylvania First (PA First)

Deal by deal; 2018 guidelines, confirm terms

OPEN BY APPLICATION; CONFIRM CURRENT TERMS

WHAT YOU GET

Funding for a job-creating project. Job training for full-time Pennsylvania resident employees is one allowed use, alongside equipment, buildings and site work.

HOW MUCH

Set deal by deal. The guidelines on file (dated 2018) cap aid at $5,000 per job created or retained, with discretion to change it, and require $10 of private investment per $1 of aid. Confirm current terms with DCED.

WHO RECEIVES THE MONEY

The business, as a grant, loan or loan guarantee, depending on the deal.

WHO QUALIFIES

Project must create or keep jobs and show substantial economic impact
Private match required
Businesses, municipalities and development authorities can apply

Before you start: Yes. Apply and get approval before you spend. Not designed for small training-only costs.

Manufacturing PA Training-to-Career Grant

Goes to schools and nonprofits

AWARDED 2026, VIA PARTNERS

WHAT YOU GET

Training and recruiting help for manufacturers, arranged by the grantee. You take part as a partner.

HOW MUCH

Depends on the state budget. No per-employer amount is published.

WHO RECEIVES THE MONEY

Schools, training providers and nonprofits such as workforce boards and manufacturing associations. Not manufacturers directly.

WHO QUALIFIES

Grantee must be a school, college, district or nonprofit
Not meant to duplicate WEDnetPA

Before you start: Not applicable to employers directly.

WIOA Youth Work Experience (summer and year-round)

Host site, not a cash grant

THROUGH YOUR LOCAL BOARD

WHAT YOU GET

A worksite host role: you provide supervised, structured work for eligible youth. Hiring them is not required.

HOW MUCH

No employer payment amount is published. Boards must spend at least 20% of youth funds on work experience.

WHO RECEIVES THE MONEY

The local board's youth program places participants with employer host sites. The policy we read does not say who pays wages, so ask your board.

WHO QUALIFIES

Host sites can be private for-profit, nonprofit or public
Board approves the site first and signs a written agreement and training plan
Youth under 18 need supervisors with current clearances

Before you start: Yes. Agreement and training plan must be fully signed before any placement starts.

LOCAL BOARDS

Same program, different rules by board.

Northwest PA Job Connect

WIOA youth work experience needs board approval of the host site and a fully signed agreement and training plan before any placement.

SOURCE: NWPAJOBCONNECT.ORG

PA CareerLink Lancaster County

Runs an Earn & Learn summer program that matches local youth with employers and assigns a job site team advisor.

SOURCE: JOBS4LANCASTER.COM

AVOID THESE

What gets Pennsylvania State Grant claims denied.

Company outside WEDnetPA's priority industries.
SOURCE: WEDNETPA.COM
Employee under the $17.31 hourly floor.
SOURCE: WEDNETPA.COM
Using the same company FEIN for more than two years in a row.
SOURCE: WEDNETPA.COM
Missing the private match or job targets on PA First.
SOURCE: DCED.PA.GOV
Invoices without proof of training.
SOURCE: WEDNETPA.COM

STRAIGHT ANSWERS

Pennsylvania State Grant questions.

Is there one statewide training grant for any employer?

No. WEDnetPA is the main employer reimbursement, and it is limited to five priority industries in 2026-27.

SOURCE: DCED.PA.GOV

Can PA First pay for training?

Yes, job training for full-time Pennsylvania resident employees is an allowed use, but only as part of a job-creating project with a private match. The guidelines on file are dated 2018, so confirm current terms with DCED.

SOURCE: DCED.PA.GOV

Does the company or the college get the WEDnetPA money?

The company, as reimbursement after training. Partner colleges help with the paperwork.

SOURCE: WEDNETPA.COM

Can I get paid to host a summer youth worker?

A board may place youth with you as a host site. The policy we read does not say employers are paid, so ask your local board.

SOURCE: NWPAJOBCONNECT.ORG

How we checked. Every fact on this page comes from a state agency, a local workforce board or federal regulation, read on September 30, 2026. Where a board publishes nothing, we say so instead of guessing. Programs and funding change often; confirm with the program before you commit. Written by Jason Meehl, founder of Reimbursa. Found an error? Email hello@reimbursa.com.

OTHER PROGRAMS IN PENNSYLVANIA

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