Deluzio Celebrates $750,000 for Worker Training in Western PA’s Robotics Industry

CARNEGIE, PA — Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) celebrates the recent Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant to Pittsburgh Robotics Network’s Maturing Appalachia’s Robotics Workforce project. The $750,000 award will be used to launch the Robotics Leadership Academy, which will support organizations in Allegheny, Beaver, and other surrounding counties in their efforts to train workers needed to catalyze growth in the local robotics industry.

“Western PA is growing its reputation as an American robotics powerhouse,” said Congressman Deluzio. “I’m excited to see this money come to Pittsburgh Robotics Network and the local robotics industry to help our workers get the important skills they need to be competitive, growing jobs and supporting our region’s economy.”  

Specifically, the Robotics Leadership Academy will train up 220 workers with important skills for robotics innovation and commercialization. There will be two training tracks: one for technical professionals and the other for students. The Robotics Leadership Academy will partner with organizations like Parner4Work, InnovatePGH, the Robotics Factor, Penn State University, and others. The program seeks a diverse set of students, emphasizing fair entry into high-demand, good-paying jobs in robotics. The Academy is scheduled to begin in late 2024, and the training sessions will continue to 2027, held once each quarter. The project is expected to serve 100 businesses, 120 workers, and 100 students over the three-year period.

ARC awarded these funds to Pittsburgh Robotics Network through its Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative. POWER provides federal funds to communities in Appalachia that have been impacted by the coal industry’s downturn.  

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