Regional foundations, workforce leaders, and national partners officially launched the NEPA Workforce Funder Collaborative on Tuesday, March 3, marking the largest coordinated philanthropic effort to date to strengthen workforce development in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

The public launch, held at the Scranton Area Community Foundation, convened philanthropic leaders, workforce partners, and community stakeholders to formally introduce a new aligned approach to strengthening workforce pipelines and expanding economic opportunity across the region.

The effort comes at a time when many employers across Northeastern Pennsylvania report difficulty filling open positions, while many residents face barriers such as childcare, transportation, and access to training programs.

The Collaborative brings together 12 founding funders and partners committed to aligning philanthropic resources with employer needs and regional workforce strategies. This effort will leverage and amplify existing regional workforce activities being undertaken by various public, private, and nonprofit partners. Guided by local leadership and informed by nationally tested models, the Collaborative is designed to address persistent challenges across the education-to-employment system while positioning Northeastern Pennsylvania for long-term, inclusive growth.

Addressing Regional Workforce Challenges Through Alignment

Employers, educators, and community organizations across Northeastern Pennsylvania continue to face growing workforce challenges. Thousands of young adults remain disconnected from school and work, regional wages trail the Pennsylvania average, and a significant portion of the workforce is nearing retirement age.

The NEPA Workforce Funder Collaborative introduces a coordinated, systems-level approach to workforce investment—aligning philanthropic capital with employer-driven strategies, regional priorities, and proven national best practices. By working collaboratively rather than independently, funders aim to reduce fragmentation, leverage existing public and private investment, scale effective solutions, and strengthen pathways to family-sustaining employment.

“The NEPA Workforce Funder Collaborative represents a shift toward alignment, partnership, and shared strategy, bringing funders, employers, and workforce partners together to strengthen talent pipelines, support regional employers, and expand opportunity for people across Northeastern Pennsylvania,” said Laura Ducceschi, President and CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation and co-chair of the Collaborative.

Investable Projects and First Priority Sector

The NEPA Workforce Funder Collaborative will support projects that align education, workforce, and industry partners around shared career pathways—ensuring resources are coordinated across Northeastern Pennsylvania rather than concentrated in specific communities.

Collaborative investments will expand access to local upskilling opportunities, particularly in rural and underserved areas, while strengthening employer-driven talent pipelines and funding essential supports that remove barriers to workforce participation and advancement. Together, these efforts are designed to promote long-term economic mobility and increase access to family-sustaining jobs throughout NEPA.

The Collaborative announced that the first priority area for investment will be in healthcare.

“By placing our initial funding focus on the healthcare sector, we are advancing the work of Anchors for Equity—a two-year regional workforce research initiative led by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia and The Institute,” said Danielle Breslin, President and CEO of Moses Taylor Foundation and co-chair of the Collaborative. “This initiative identified key high-need positions, including certified nurses aides, medical assistants, dental assistants, and medical technologists. Those are some of the positions where we will be placing our initial emphasis.”

Introducing JobsFirstNEPA

The launch event also formally introduced JobsFirstNEPA, a complementary workforce intermediary designed to strengthen employer engagement, improve coordination across systems, and help translate regional workforce strategies into action. JobsFirstNEPA builds on a nationally recognized model developed by JobsFirstNYC and has been adapted to meet the unique needs of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

 

Together, the NEPA Workforce Funder Collaborative and JobsFirstNEPA position the region as a model for how aligned philanthropy, local leadership, and national expertise can drive meaningful, employer-responsive workforce solutions.

Founding Members of the NEPA Workforce Funder Collaborative