The CTEP Story

The Motivation Behind CTEP

The Chester Trades Education Project is a unique program that was designed to address
two sobering challenges:

– the lack of opportunities available to residents of Chester, Pennsylvania

– the unprecedented labor shortage in the skilled trades

The Path Toward a Solution: Increased Access Leads to Positive Outcomes

Our MISSION is to provide increased access to education and training in the skilled trades. Our GOAL is to pave the way for successful career paths, grow the workforce pipeline, and ultimately help residents of Chester not only achieve long-term economic security, but also acquire essential skills desperately needed to enhance and strengthen the surrounding community.

Partnership is Key

Success only comes through collaborative efforts, and CTEP is comprised of five essential partners, each providing crucial roles and guidance to ensure continual progress and sustainability of the program. Initially spearheaded by the Rotary Club of Swarthmore, the program is a thriving collaborative effort supported by Riverside Futures CDC, Delaware County Community College, The Chester Housing Authority, and the Rotary Club of Chester. The CTEP partners are committed to setting up students for SUCCESS and helping them overcome both academic and socioeconomic barriers.

Riverside Futures Regional Community Development Corporation recruits, screens, and selects program participants and provides a community-led mentoring program to support students throughout their program experience.

Delaware County Community College offers the education and training in advanced technology and the skilled trades and coordinates tuition assistance as well as transportation.

The Chester Housing Authority provides neighborhood training hubs for specific program concentrations and coordinates internships. The rehabilitation of identified CHA facilities allows students to apply skills gained in the classroom to real-world scenarios.

The Rotary Club of Swarthmore and the Rotary Club of Chester cultivate partnerships and secure funds to alleviate an array of academic and socioeconomic barriers for the CTEP students such as tools, work clothes, safety glasses, transportation costs, etc.