4-14-2023 1:17pm

Governors Shapiro and Murphy Tour Finishing Trades Institute, Announce Inter-State Partnership

Chris Connors Editor

A New Era of Inter-State Cooperation Boosts Skilled Trade Opportunities for Future Workforce

In a rare show of cross-state cooperation, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy visited the Finishing Trades Institute on Thursday, April 13th. The tour showcased the various programs offered by the institute and culminated in the announcement of a new partnership between the two states.

Both governors experienced firsthand the virtual welding lab, the glass cutting workshop, the industrial and commercial painting shop, the drywall finishing center, the bridge workshop, and more. They took the time to interact with students and teachers, playfully asking where they were from to keep the Pennsylvania-New Jersey rivalry alive.

The tour began with a meeting between the governors and three high school students from Mastery Charter Pickett Campus, part of a pre-apprenticeship program. One student expressed their preference for trade work over a traditional college education, to which Governor Shapiro responded with enthusiasm for providing more high school students with similar opportunities.

Governor Murphy took the opportunity to try the virtual welding lab and mentioned New Jersey's comparable pre-apprenticeship program, NJ PACE (Pre-Apprenticeship in Career Education).

In a special moment, the governors met Denise, a participant in the Women in Non-traditional Careers (WINC) tradeswomen readiness program. Denise shared her experience learning various trades, with painting emerging as her true calling. Governor Murphy light-heartedly quipped, "They cut the circles, while we run around in circles."

Following the tour, both governors expressed their commitment to supporting apprenticeship programs during a press conference.

"They are the backbone of both the Pennsylvania economy and the New Jersey economy," said Governor Murphy.

Pennsylvania Labor and Industry Acting Secretary Nancy Walker and New Jersey Department of Transportation Assistant Commissioner Justin Braz also joined the tour, signaling strong support for the new partnership from both states.

The joint tour of the Finishing Trades Institute by Governors Shapiro and Murphy marks a significant step towards promoting apprenticeship programs and fostering inter-state collaboration.

By demonstrating their support for non-traditional education pathways, the governors have highlighted the value of skilled trade work in bolstering the economies of both Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

This partnership showcases a renewed commitment to investing in the future workforce, diversifying educational opportunities for young people, and emphasizing the importance of skilled labor in today's ever-evolving economy.