West Chester, Pa (Octubre 18, 2022) – A local organization providing computer training programs will receive $45,000 in state grant funding to help job-seekers advance their digital skills, state Senator Carolyn Comitta announced. 

Full Circle Computing, an Exton-based company that provides computer and career training, will use the funds to teach digital literacy skills to job-seekers, particularly those without home access to computers or the Internet. 

“In the modern workforce, digital skills and computer literacy are vital to professional advancement and long-term career success,” Comitta said. “Ongoing investments, like this, will help bridge the digital divide and provide enhanced access to employment opportunities across Chester County and Pennsylvania.” 

The program, developed in conjunction with the Chester County Workforce Development Board, focuses on preparing Chester County’s most impacted populations for success in job searches, finding employment opportunities, digital citizenship, and digital navigation. It also offers basic technology and PC skills, including Microsoft Office training. 

While all Chester County residents are eligible to participate, the program aims to prioritize serving impacted residents, such as those in Coatesville and Oxford where the Internet subscription rate is below the Pennsylvania average at 72 percent and 66 percent.

The $45,000 grant to Full Circle is part of $600,000 in funding awarded to organizations across Pennsylvania through the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry’s Digital Literacy and Workforce Development Grant program. This program promotes digital literacy skills for people looking for work, including the ability to search and apply for online jobs, upload and submit a résumé via email, and the ability to develop and maintain a professional profile on networking sites. It is supported by federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Statewide Activity funding.

“These investments are important because they break down barriers between Pennsylvania workers and family-sustaining jobs that require a digital-literacy skillset to be successful,” said Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry Secretary Jennifer Berrier. “Pennsylvania’s economy and employers compete on a global scale, so it is crucial that we upskill Pennsylvania workers to be competitive at that level from day one in a new job.”

Established in 1995, Full Circle has served more than 1,000 clients in its history, providing customers with increased professional and technical skills that lead to greater marketability, job placement and career progression. Wages from job placements for clients of Full Circle’s WIOA programs have totaled more than $30 million dollars. 

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