Congresswoman Summer Lee Announces $716,701 Grant to Empower Women in Pennsylvania’s Workforce

*For Immediate Release**

Kyla Gill, Kyla.Gill@mail.house.gov 

Vaibhav Vijay, Vaibhav.Vijay@mail.house.gov 

Congresswoman Summer Lee Announces $716,701 Grant to Empower Women in Pennsylvania’s Workforce

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Summer Lee (PA-12) is proud to announce that Catalyst Connection, a vital partner in Pittsburgh’s manufacturing and workforce development community, has been awarded $716,701 through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) program. This funding will directly benefit women in Pittsburgh and southwestern Pennsylvania by providing training and support for entry into high-paying, stable careers in industries like advanced manufacturing, skilled building trades, and technology, where women have been historically underrepresented.

“At a time when working families are facing rising costs and systemic barriers to quality jobs, this investment in our local workforce couldn’t come at a better time,” said Congresswoman Lee. “This funding will help women across our district access life-changing opportunities, ensuring they not only secure good jobs, but excel in careers that provide stability, benefits, and a brighter future. Catalyst Connection’s leadership in workforce development will play a critical role in empowering women to break into high-demand fields like skilled trades, manufacturing and IT—industries that are driving innovation and shaping the future of Pittsburgh’s economy.”

Catalyst Connection, a private not-for-profit organization headquartered in Pittsburgh, provides consulting and training services to small manufacturers throughout southwestern Pennsylvania. Their mission is to accelerate growth and improve productivity in the region’s manufacturing sector, supporting both individual workers and the overall economy. Through this WANTO grant, Catalyst Connection will expand its efforts to recruit, train, and support women in their journey toward rewarding careers in advanced industries.

This funding comes as part of the Biden-Harris administration’s broader push to create a fairer, more inclusive economy by breaking down barriers for underrepresented communities in high-wage, high-demand jobs. Programs like WANTO help ensure that women have access to the support they need – from training and mentorship to vital resources like childcare and transportation – as they pursue careers in fields traditionally dominated by men.

“Good jobs lift up entire families and communities,” Congresswoman Lee continued. “This grant is not just an investment in women—it’s an investment in the future of Pittsburgh and southwestern Pennsylvania. It’s about building pathways to economic security and creating an economy that works for everyone.”

The $716,701 grant to Catalyst Connection is part of a broader $6 million initiative by the Department of Labor to expand job opportunities for women in apprenticeships and nontraditional occupations across the country. Congresswoman Lee remains committed to fighting for the resources our communities need to create equitable access to these crucial career opportunities.

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Since taking office in January 2023, Lee, who serves on the House Oversight Committee and Space, Science and Technology Committee, has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $1.85 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $580 million for infrastructure, over $110 million for affordable transit, over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania, and over $55 million on clean energy efforts in and around schools to help keep our kids and communities safe. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs.  Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 2,600 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.