PHILADELPHIA, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Secretary Nancy A. Walker and Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding visited Fox Chase Farm on Tuesday to celebrate a significant advancement in agricultural career education for students in the School District of Philadelphia. Thanks to a $250,000 Schools-to-Work grant from the Shapiro Administration, the district will develop a pre-apprenticeship program to prepare students for careers in indoor farming and bolster efforts to combat food insecurity.
Boosting Career Opportunities
Governor Josh Shapiro has prioritized creating pathways for Pennsylvanians to secure family-sustaining jobs. Earlier this year, L&I awarded Schools-to-Work grants totaling over $3.3 million to 14 organizations across Pennsylvania, including the School District of Philadelphia.
“Pre-apprenticeship programs offer Pennsylvania students the opportunity to build in-demand skills to land family-sustaining jobs in growing industries – and there’s no better industry than agriculture when it comes to opportunity,” Secretary Walker said. “A pathway to a career is a pathway to a life of real freedom, and the Shapiro Administration is proud to support the School District of Philadelphia in its efforts to launch students directly into family-sustaining careers.”
Expanding Apprenticeships in Agriculture
Traditionally, apprenticeship programs have focused on the building trades. However, the Shapiro Administration is expanding these opportunities to new sectors like agriculture, especially targeting underserved populations. This aligns with the administration’s goal of promoting apprenticeships as a debt-free pathway to well-paying jobs.
Under Governor Shapiro’s leadership, L&I and the Department of Agriculture have created more apprenticeship and training programs in Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry. Since the start of the Shapiro Administration, L&I’s Apprenticeship and Training Office (ATO) has facilitated the creation of over 45 new apprenticeship programs, including two specifically for the agriculture sector.
“Agriculture businesses need workers with flexible skills and the agility to learn new ways of doing things and adopt new technologies that help them grow what consumers want,” Secretary Redding said. “That takes investing early to attract learners who are passionate not just about growing food but putting their knowledge to work growing a business. Earn-while-you-learn apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships are a critical investment the Shapiro Administration is making to check a lot of boxes – feeding kids’ futures by expanding career opportunities, feeding Pennsylvania families, and meeting Pennsylvania businesses’ need for skilled workers, all while feeding consumer demand for high-value products that grow their profits and sustain their success.”
The CEA Pre-Apprenticeship Program
The School District of Philadelphia will utilize its $250,000 grant to develop a Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Pre-Apprenticeship Pipeline Program. This new initiative will offer 24 students annually the chance to learn about indoor farming technologies and provide a pathway into registered apprenticeship programs in the plumbing or electrical trades. The program also aims to address food insecurity by producing food to support the district’s efforts.
On Tuesday, Secretaries Walker and Redding toured Fox Chase Farm, a 112-acre working farm in Northeast Philadelphia operated by the School District of Philadelphia. The farm provides educational opportunities for district students and the broader community.
Fighting Food Insecurity
“This grant enables us to target one of the most food insecure and largest food deserts in Philadelphia. It will truly help build intrinsic motivation within our students and communities, building stronger food-confident communities,” said Dr. Mandy Manna, Principal and Farm Manager. “Imagine a child who is engaged in growing their own fresh food, while developing soft skills, and being exposed to entrepreneurial experiences through their entire school career. At the Fox Chase Farm, we strive to bring innovative and strategic ways to create student-centered learning opportunities to increase the equity and accessibility to all ages and all learning levels using agriculture and career pathways as the driving force.”
Through these initiatives, Pennsylvania aims to nurture the next generation of agricultural professionals while addressing critical issues like food insecurity and workforce development.
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