Food Industry Partnership

Food Processing Industry Partnership of Northwest Pennsylvania

The mission of the Food Processing Industry Partnership of Northwest Pennsylvania (FPIP) is to support regional processors in efforts to remain competitive with national food suppliers. The partnership fosters incumbent worker training, the assimilation of new processing methods and technologies, the development of regional purchasing networks, and also works to recruit new employees to the industry.

FPIP Strategies

Conduct ongoing workforce training in the critical arenas of food handling and storage, new product development, wastewater treatment, information management and energy conservation
Develop public awareness of the benefits of regionally grown and processed food products
Solidify relationships with regional food growers
Coordinate regional purchasing networks

FPIP Results

The FPIP membership includes 15 manufacturers, 5 economic development agencies and an educational provider from a 14 county region. The partnership has secured $90,000 in partnership development funds, and $90,000 in training funds. Completed products include:

Best Practice Research in Food Safety (information sharing, supply chain implications, technology regulation), Economies of Scale (purchasing, utilities, warehousing, transportation) and Employee Retention (becoming a best place to work)
Industry Needs Assessment (includes Knowledge-Skill-Ability Profile of 15 designated occupations, 7 to 10 year occupational demand analysis and regional employer survey)
Training provider survey to identify programs and curriculum currently available in the region and assess the ability of the content to meet the employers' needs around the 15 target occupations
Gap analysis of the data compiled from employers and training providers to note which areas of job training are not being met
Identification of the critical competencies possessed by high performing employees.

For additional information regarding Industry Partnerships please visit www.nwpawib.org and click on the Industry Partnership link.

	Attachment	Size
	Brochure_Food.pdf	3.4 MB