Pennsylvania lawmakers are planning a hearing they hope will foster discussion on growing Pittsburgh’s employment opportunities.
The House Democratic Policy Committee will hold a July 23 public hearing at the Community College of Allegheny County to discuss jobs and workforce development in the Pittsburgh area.
The hearing will feature nine local panelists from businesses, schools, and organizations such as Vibrant Pittsburgh, Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board and the Pittsburgh Promise who will discuss issues and opportunities for job-seekers and employers in the city.
House Democratic Policy Committee Member Rep. Jake Wheatley (D-Allegheny) called the meeting and says the committee is holding similar hearings across the state.
“The Democratic Policy Committee is going around the state and really trying to focus in on the important issues of our citizens, and there’s no more important issue than the ability to obtain a family-sustaining job,” Wheatley said.
Wheatley says the hearing is open to anyone.
“Our hope is to have the citizens of Pittsburgh who are interested in this topic, those who are job-seekers, those who are employers, to be a part of this conversation so that they can hear what’s being discussed from a policy perspective, but also so that we can learn more about them,” Wheatley said.
The panel is primarily a learning opportunity for politicians.
“It’s a way for those members in our caucus to hear about the innovations and creative things that people might be doing that are successful, and then try to glean from that what we do to eliminate barriers or to help further expand the access to quality workforce development,” Wheatley said.
He says that for politicians like himself, panels such as these give a glimpse into what constituents want and need, which helps representatives draft useful legislation.
The hearing will take place from 2 p.m. to 3:40 p.m. at Community College of Allegheny County’s Allegheny Campus in the Foerster Student Services Center on the second floor.
