

On Aug. 22, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development announced it had awarded an $85,000 grant to the United Way of the Capital Region through its Rural Business Development Grants Program.
The grant will be used to help United Way of the Capital Region enact job training programs to support local small businesses in acquiring skilled employees.
Since 2021, USDA RD has invested $314 million in 1,637 projects in Pennsylvania.
The RBDG program is designed to support organizations that deliver the most impact possible when fulfilling the needs of their communities. In this case, the need is workforce development.

“Everywhere in rural America, communities are trying to find innovative ways to maintain and attract an efficient workforce to sustain and enhance their economies,” State Director Bob Morgan said.
“The United Way of the Capital Region was awarded this grant because they do just that,” he said.
Grant funds will be used primarily to support the organization’s Road to Success workforce development initiative, which benefits local businesses by providing a pool of quality, prepared and dependable employees.
“Without these vital local partners such as the United Way, this federal funding opportunity would not make it to the communities where it is intended and needed most,” USDA’s Administrator for the Rural Business and Cooperative Service Betsy Dirksen Londrigan said during the award ceremony in Harrisburg, Pa. “So, on behalf of USDA Secretary Vilsack and the Biden-Harris Administration, we thank you for providing this absolutely necessary service to your community.”

United Way of the Capital Region also received a $50,000 grant last year to be used to support the Road to Success workforce development initiative.
United Way of the Capital Region has provided $228,500 of its own funding for the program.
Road to Success helps participants by assessing skill levels, connecting participants to additional education and training support and providing budget counseling to help individuals become financially independent.
United Way of the Capital Region can also connect participants with language support, transportation assistance, childcare programs, clothing/uniform providers and health care. United Way of the Capital Region says more than 200 people have graduated from the program. United Way of the Capital Region serves residents in Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry counties.