Congressman Deluzio Helps Secure Nearly $3.8 Million in Federal Tax Credits for Pittsburgh Technical College
The Congressman’s casework services team secured release of funds to help fund staff, support students, and expand access to higher education at the college
OAKDALE, PA – On Monday, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) visited Pittsburgh Technical College (PTC) a two-year, private, non-profit regionally accredited college in Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District and announced that his office has helped the institution secure release of $3,729,168.71 in Employee Retention Tax Credits.
The IRS had allocated the federal credits, but the funds had been held up since they were first requested in the summer of 2021 and were delayed for over a year. Recognizing the critical need for funding, Congressman Deluzio’s office worked in coordination with the Internal Revenue Service and secured the release of the nearly $3.8 million in federal funds, including interest, that were slated to arrive on April 11th, 2023. These new funds will help PTC retain instructors, boost workforce training for in-demand careers, and support students with scholarships and services.
“Colleges with an applied and technical focus like Pittsburgh Technical College help provide critical workforce training to fill good-paying, frequently union jobs that keep our community running,” said Congressman Deluzio. “I am proud that my constituent services team and I were able to bring home these federal funds to support job growth and training for those jobs right here in the 17th Congressional District.”
“At Pittsburgh Technical College, one of our top strategic priorities is to expand access to higher education for all students in our region through scholarships and grants,” said PTC President/CEO Dr. Alicia B. Harvey-Smith. “Thanks to Congressman Deluzio and his team for assisting in expediting the release of this significant tax credit to PTC. These funds strengthen our ability to serve our mission of providing comprehensive access to advanced technical education."
Dr. Harvey-Smith continued, “Congressman Deluzio and his team are great partners. Partnerships like this are key to transformative impact for all citizens across the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and surrounding regions. Pittsburgh Technical College is a community asset committed to expanding partnerships to innovatively develop an in-demand workforce. This funding helps to position PTC as an educator of choice in applied and technical education and further achieve its institutional priorities of building a comprehensive middle skills pipeline and fueling economic development, a commitment realized through a 95% in field placement rate.”
Among other things, the close to $3.8 million in tax credits will help Pittsburgh Technical College:
- Stabilize its workforce in applied and technical areas.
- Fund critical workforce initiatives for in-demand careers in Allegheny County, especially training Nurses, First Responders in Criminal Justice, Trades and Welding Professionals.
- Close gaps resulting from declines in enrollment and auxiliary revenue due to the pandemic.
- Provide students with vital resources such as scholarships and support services to enhance personal and professional success.
The Congressman toured Pittsburgh Technical College alongside President and CEO Dr. Harvey-Smith and other college staff. Photos from the event are available for download here.
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