University City District’s West Philadelphia Skills Initiative (WPSI) and PIDC’s Navy Yard Skills Initiative (NYSI) are cooperating again to train Philadelphia residents for full-time, quality-wage careers with employer partner Philly Shipyard, Inc. (PSI). This is the second partnership with PSI following a successful program in September 2021 that resulted in more than a dozen program graduates receiving offers to join PSI in laborer positions.

This new program will allow graduates to interview for competitive union apprentice positions with PSI. The three-year competency program accepts candidates with little or no experience and trains them to be multi-skilled employees that can participate in the future success of Philly Shipyard. Apprentices with PSI are considered full-time employees and paid to learn skills like shipbuilding and welding while earning college credits. Continue Reading

The West Philadelphia Skills Initiative (WPSI), in partnership with PIDC’s Navy Yards Skills Initiative (NYSI), have launched a new job training program with Tasty Baking Company, one of Philadelphia’s most iconic food companies. The maker of Tastykake, the company is headquartered at the Navy Yard.

The program recruits and trains unemployed Philadelphians for training and job opportunities as Production Associates.

WPSI and NYSI custom designed the Production Associate Program for Tasty Baking Company (now owned by Flowers Foods, Inc.) to connect participants to the tools and support needed to build a meaningful career in the advanced manufacturing food production industry. The production associate role is a part-time position earning $14.60/hour, and associates can submit a request for extra hours creating a full-time schedule. Typically, production associates transition to full-time employment in less than a year and earn $17.00/hour in addition to becoming members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers, and Grain Millers’ (BCTGM) International Union. Continue Reading

Many local restaurants have been experiencing staffing shortages as a result of the pandemic. To help local businesses fill open positions, University City District (UCD) is hosting a West Philly Restaurant Job Fair on Wednesday, Nov. 17 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Participating restaurants are currently sending open positions they are looking to fill and folks interested in applying for restaurant positions—both for front and back of house—are invited to submit a single application that will be accepted by all participating restaurants. Jobseekers will then get a chance to interview with restaurants on Nov. 17.

UCD is also funding $100 signing bonuses for people who are hired that day and who work five shifts with their new restaurant. Continue Reading

The West Philadelphia Skills Initiative, the University City District’s program that provides job training opportunities to unemployed Philadelphians and connects them with potential employers, now also supports its alumni who want to continue their professional education. The inaugural group of “WPSI Scholars” was announced yesterday. Each of the 16 scholars received $1,000 scholarships toward tuition to cover degree, certification, or credentialing programs.

The goal of the program is to “offer a small but significant incentive to graduates to continue growing in their careers and open new professional opportunities,” according to Skills Initiative Managing Director Cait Garozzo. Continue Reading

Many small local businesses have been hit very hard by the pandemic, but they’re holding on and some even have some exciting news to share with the community:

Lil Pop Shop Partners with Weckerly’s Ice Cream

From left to right: Weckerly’s owners Andy Satinsky and Jen Weckerle, and Lil Pop Shop owner Jeanne Chang (Photo by Megan Kelly).

West Philly’s Lil Pop Shop and Fishtown’s Weckerly’s Ice Cream, have recently announced a new partnership. Starting this Friday, April 16, Lil Pop Shop customers will be able to enjoy a variety of scoops and other ice cream treats from Weckerly’s. Over in Fishtown, Weckerly’s flagship shop (9 W. Girard Ave.) will offer a selection of Lil Pop Shop’s small-batch fruit and cream based-pops. Continue Reading

Here’s some great news from University City District’s West Philadelphia Skills Initiative (WPSI), an award-winning workforce development program founded in 2009.

• Philadelphia residents who are interested in becoming a bus operator are welcome to apply for a new job training program with WPSI and SEPTA. The Skills Initiative is recruiting customer-service “superstars” who have had a valid driver’s license for at least the last three years, who have open schedule availability, and who possess an interest in growing a career at SEPTA.  Continue Reading