The Skills Initiative

Yesterday, we shared details about our latest partnership with Hanwha Hanwha Philly Shipyard and Navy Yard, which is accepting applications through July 24th. Today, we’re thrilled to share that our efforts to connect Philadelphians to roles in shipbuilding will continue thanks to a major $2 million grant from J.P. Morgan that will extend and expand our longstanding workforce partnership with Navy Yard Philadelphia, with a specific focus on supporting Hanwha Philly Shipyard to build out its workforce. 

Today’s investment follows a $1.5 million investment JOMorganChase made in 2019 to support our expansion into areas outside of West Philadelphia, which blossomed into the establishment of The Skills Initiative at the Navy Yard. Six years after our first cohort, we are still going strong. We just launched our 18th Navy Yard cohort, offering training for experienced welders looking to grow their careers with maritime welder roles at Hanwha. 

Since the launch of the first cohort in 2020, nearly 300 Philadelphians have graduated from Skills Initiative at the Navy Yard programs, with 91.75% connecting to jobs after program completion. In 2025, 96.15% of program graduates connected to jobs with an average starting wage of $27.04 per hour.

Shipbuilding represents stable, high-quality jobs that stand to define our region for years to come. We’re grateful for this investment from JPMC to support our efforts to train Philadelphians for roles that offer real pathways to economic mobility.

Thanks, too, to the following partners for their support: City of Philadelphia; City College for Municipal Employment (CCME); Delaware County Community Col; and PIDC.

Read more details about the announcement or view our current recruitment using the link in our bio!