Delaware Valley Innovation Network Launches Life Sciences Talent Development Fund

PHILADELPHIA BUSINESS JOURNAL

June 20

Group lands $2.4 million for life sciences job training

The Delaware Valley Innovation Network has launched a new work-force development fund to expand the talent pool for life sciences companies in southeastern Pennsylvania, South Jersey and northern Delaware.

The network's innovation investment fund will provide more than $2.4 million in federal grants over the next three years to support training and "capacity building" programs aimed at increasing the supply of qualified workers for health-care, pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical-device businesses.

"The goal of the fund is to train 5,000 new workers over the next three years and provide these workers with those skills that are most needed by the life sciences companies in the DVIN region," said Kelly Lee, Delaware Valley Innovation Network executive committee chair and the executive vice president of Innovation Philadelphia.

The 14 counties in the DVIN region are Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Montgomery and Philadelphia in Pennsylvania; Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer and Salem in New Jersey; and New Castle in Delaware.