Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board

What Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board does

Partner4Work (formerly Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board, rebranded January 2017) is the publicly designated workforce development board for Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, operating under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The organization stewards more than $25 million in annual public and private workforce funds to connect job seekers, employers, community-based organizations, and policymakers across the region. It is structured as a quasi-governmental, business-led nonprofit rather than a commercial entity; revenue is derived from federal WIOA allocations, state grants (PA Department of Labor and Industry), municipal and county government co-funding, federal competitive grants (Department of Labor, Department of Justice), and philanthropic contributions from foundations (Richard King Mellon Foundation) and corporate partners (AT&T, Google.org, IBM).

The organization's core product surface comprises the PA CareerLink career center network (downtown Pittsburgh, Forest Hills, Energy Innovation Center satellite, and Carnegie Library branches across six neighborhoods), the Learn & Earn paid youth employment program (Summer and Year-Round components for ages 14–23), and a portfolio of industry-targeted training initiatives including BankWork$ (retail banking), 4Construction and Build the Beat (skilled trades), RAMP (advanced manufacturing), PIT2Work (justice-system reentry), 4Healthcare/UPMC partnerships, and Career Ready Allegheny (K-12 career readiness). Programs are delivered free of charge to job seekers and employers through a combination of direct staffing (~6 FTE per firmographic data) and a downstream network of more than 80 community-based provider organizations that perform intake, training delivery, and worksite coordination. Notable employer partners include UPMC, regional banks (via BankWork$), P.J. Dick Construction, the National Aviary, and approximately 10 advanced manufacturers convened through RAMP.

The organization has no proprietary technology platform of its own — PA CareerLink is a state-administered system — and does not disclose AI or machine-learning capability. Its growth model has historically been driven by capturing additional federal, state, and philanthropic grants to expand program scope (the organization grew from approximately $2.9 million to approximately $21 million in funds under management under prior CEO Stefani Pashman), complemented by industry-partnership co-design and geographic coordination with neighboring workforce boards in Southwest Pennsylvania. Leadership transitioned from Pashman (through 2017) to Earl Buford (2018–2021) to Robert L. Cherry Jr. (current, since July 2021), with Susie Puskar promoted to COO in March 2024.

Name

Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board

Legal name

Partner4Work

Website

https://trwib.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

akta.pro primary industry

Employer-Led Workforce Partnerships & Sector Strategies (EDAAAOAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workforce Readiness, Career Pathways & Youth Employment Nonprofits (BPAGADAF), Mentorship & Coaching (Career, Academic, Industry-Specific) (EDAMAKAA), Leadership, Service Learning & Volunteer-to-Career Pathways (EDAMAKAJ), Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in Education (EDADALAD), Community College / Training Provider Workforce Pathways Programs (EDAAAOAO)

Keywords

• Workforce development services
• Youth employment programs
• Career center operations
• Employer recruitment services
• Job seeker training

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Public Workforce Funds: Partner4Work stewards over $25 million in public and private workforce funds to oversee and fund workforce programs for adults, dislocated workers, and youth; educates the community through robust labor market analytics; and implements innovative solutions to the region's systemic workforce challenges.
2. Federal/State Grants: Funding from Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Department of Labor grants, Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry grants, and other federal workforce development programs.
3. Philanthropic Contributions: Support from corporate partners such as AT&T (Aspire initiative), RK Mellon Foundation, and other foundations for specific programs like Learn & Earn.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Partner4Work (formerly Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board) is the public workforce development board for Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. It connects funding, expertise, and opportunities for employers, job seekers, agencies, and policymakers by operating PA CareerLink one-stop career centers, administering the Learn & Earn paid youth employment program, and stewarding more than $25 million in public and private workforce funds to deliver adult, dislocated worker, and youth workforce services across the region.

Product overview

Partner4Work (formerly Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board) is a public workforce development board that serves as a unified platform connecting funding, expertise, and opportunities for employers, job seekers, agencies, and policymakers in the Pittsburgh region. The organization administers multiple interconnected workforce programs including Learn & Earn (a paid youth employment initiative with Summer and Year-Round components), PA CareerLink career services, and specialized training programs such as Build the Beat (construction trades pre-apprenticeship), BankWork$ (banking career training), PIT2Work (reentry employment), and 4Construction. The core offering is a comprehensive workforce development ecosystem that bridges the gap between job seekers seeking employment and employers needing talent, supported by employer partnerships, professional development coaching, and connection to regional education and training providers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Learn & Earn A paid youth employment program connecting young people ages 14-23 with summer and year-round work experiences, career exploration, and professional development coaching. Includes Summer Learn & Earn (7-week program) and Year-Round Learn & Earn (fall, winter, spring sessions) components, placing youth at worksites including employers, nonprofits, and community organizations.
• PA CareerLink Pittsburgh/Allegheny County One-stop workforce services centers providing job search assistance, training referrals, career counseling, and employer services. Locations include the downtown Pittsburgh office (914 Penn Avenue) and the East office in Forest Hills (2040 Ardmore Boulevard).
• PA CareerLink Satellite Offices Neighborhood-based satellite offices at the Energy Innovation Center (Hill District, open Tuesdays through Thursdays) and Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh branches (Downtown, North Side, Braddock, McKeesport, Hazelwood) providing local access to workforce services.
• Employer Services Workforce development services helping businesses find and retain talent, including recruitment events, candidate screening, customized job training programs, and worksite hosting for youth employment programs.
• Job Seeker Services Career opportunities and support services for adult and young job seekers, including job placement assistance, skills development, job-seeking skills training, and connection to training programs.
• Build the Beat A collaborative pre-apprenticeship program in construction trades developed with Live Nation, PJ Dick, and Pittsburgh Gateways Corporation that provides hands-on training and industry certifications.
• RAMP (Regional Advanced Manufacturing Partnership) An initiative strengthening the advanced manufacturing talent pipeline across the Pittsburgh region by engaging approximately 10 advanced manufacturing companies to co-design scalable workforce development solutions with employers, educators, and community stakeholders.
• PIT2Work A workforce development program helping individuals transition from the justice system to meaningful employment. Delivered in partnership with Allegheny County Jail, PA CareerLink Pittsburgh, and community-based organizations.
• BankWork$ A nationally recognized, industry-developed training program helping individuals prepare for careers in retail banking, launched in collaboration with the PA Bankers Association to place graduates in retail banking careers with regional bank partners.
• 4Construction An initiative creating opportunities in Pittsburgh's construction industry through pre-apprenticeship and workforce training programs, in partnership with the Builders Guild of Western Pennsylvania.
• EARN (Employment Advancement and Retention Network) A welfare-to-work program providing employment services, case management, and job placement assistance to help individuals overcome barriers to employment.
• Career Ready Allegheny A comprehensive platform developed in partnership with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, the Consortium for Public Education, and Remake Learning that connects schools, students, and employers for career readiness.
• Veterans Value Initiative Provides enhanced career services and work-based trainings to unemployed veterans in the region, developing career pathways linked to educational and training opportunities for high-demand occupations in energy, technology, and manufacturing.
• Freedom House 2.0 EMS Training Emergency medical services training program in partnership with UPMC to prepare individuals for EMS careers.
• TechHire Pittsburgh Initiative providing IT career skills training scholarships (100 scholarships funded by Google.org) and career-readiness video games (JobPro and Booeys: A Ghost's Code developed with Simcoach Games) to young adults.
• Pittsburgh Reentry Career Services (PRCS) A program to help reduce recidivism and increase community safety by improving employment services and connections for Allegheny County Jail residents, working in partnership with Allegheny County Jail, PA CareerLink Pittsburgh, and community-based organizations.
• Women in Manufacturing Initiative A workforce development initiative to increase women's participation in Pittsburgh's advanced manufacturing sector, supported by a $716,000 U.S. Department of Labor grant.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 13,500 youth connected with jobs since 2015 through Learn & Earn program
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• The Barnes Global Advisors (TBGA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2026Launched Regional Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (RAMP) to strengthen the advanced manufacturing talent pipeline across the Pittsburgh region. RAMP brings together employers, educators, and community stakeholders to develop scalable workforce strategies, engaging approximately 10 advanced manufacturing companies to co-design innovative workforce development solutions.
• Southwest Corner Workforce Development BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional workforce development board partnership for co-hosting the SWPA Healthcare Expo connecting students to healthcare career pathways.
• Tri-County Workforce Investment BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional workforce development board partnership for co-hosting the SWPA Healthcare Expo connecting students to healthcare career pathways.
• Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional workforce development board partnership for co-hosting the SWPA Healthcare Expo connecting students to healthcare career pathways.
• PA Bankers AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched BankWork$ Pittsburgh, a nationally recognized, industry-developed training program to help individuals prepare for careers in retail banking.
• UPMCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple partnerships including 4Healthcare initiative, Freedom House 2.0 EMS training program, environmental services training, and healthcare career pathway programs.
• Builders Guild of Western PennsylvaniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Introduction to the Construction Trades pre-apprenticeship program and 4Construction initiative to prepare individuals for construction trade careers.
• Allegheny CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government partner co-funding and co-delivering Learn & Earn summer youth employment program serving youth ages 14-23.
• City of PittsburghcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government partner co-funding and co-delivering Learn & Earn summer youth employment program serving youth ages 14-23.
• IBMflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched IBM Service Corps Reignite career readiness platform to support businesses, job seekers, and non-profits emerging from COVID-19 economic disruption. Pittsburgh was the first U.S. city to launch this initiative.
• Simcoach GamescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment of video games including JobPro series and Booeys: A Ghost's Code to provide work-readiness training and career exploration through gaming.
• German American Chamber of Commerce, Pittsburgh ChaptercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for nation's first Electric Vehicle apprenticeship program and Polymer Process Technician apprenticeship program.
• Carnegie Library of PittsburghcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for PA CareerLink satellite locations and pop-up recruitment events for Learn & Earn program.
• Energy Innovation CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost site for PA CareerLink satellite office and partner for environmental services technician training and other workforce programs.
• Neighborhood Learning AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for college immersion programs and career readiness initiatives connecting youth with educational opportunities.
• Per ScholascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational tech training provider launched in Pittsburgh in 2021 to expand regional talent pipeline accessibility into in-demand tech careers.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Year Up: National nonprofit workforce development organization focused on closing the opportunity divide for young adults through skills training and corporate internships. Comparable in youth career pathway mission and employer-partnered model, though operating nationally rather than as a regional WIOA board.
• Per Scholas: National tech-focused workforce development nonprofit that provides tuition-free IT training. Partner4Work launched Per Scholas in Pittsburgh in 2021. Comparable in employer-led training model serving underrepresented populations, though narrower (tech-only) focus.

Direct peers

• Employ Milwaukee: Public workforce development board for Milwaukee County, Wisconsin under WIOA. Directly comparable as a similarly structured quasi-governmental workforce investment board administering WIOA funds, employer partnerships, and sector-based training initiatives. Earl Buford, Partner4Work's prior CEO, previously led Employ Milwaukee.
• Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership: Public workforce development board serving Chicago and Cook County under WIOA. Comparable as a large urban WIOA-designated board operating career centers, employer services, and sector-focused training programs in a major metropolitan area.
• San Diego Workforce Partnership: Public workforce development board serving San Diego County under WIOA. Directly comparable as a similarly structured business-led WIOA board administering career centers, sector partnerships, and youth employment programs with comparable scale and funding models.
• Southwest Corner Workforce Development Board: Regional workforce development board in Southwest Pennsylvania that actively partners with Partner4Work (e.g., co-hosting the SWPA Healthcare Expo). Comparable as a neighboring WIOA workforce board with similar programmatic offerings and regional employer engagement.
• Workforce Solutions Capital Area (Austin): Public workforce development board serving the Austin, Texas region. Comparable as a regional WIOA workforce board with sector partnership models, employer-led training initiatives, and youth employment programming of comparable scale.

Broad incumbents

• National Skills Coalition: National advocacy organization working to advance skill development policies and federal workforce funding. Comparable as a workforce intermediary ecosystem participant, though primarily policy/advocacy rather than direct service delivery.
• Jobs for the Future (JFF): National nonprofit focused on workforce development and economic mobility, partnering with workforce boards, employers, and policymakers. Comparable as a broader workforce intermediary working with WIOA boards and influencing sector partnership design, though operating nationally with research/policy focus.

Regional players

• Builders Guild of Western Pennsylvania: Regional employer-led workforce intermediary for the construction trades in Western Pennsylvania. Partner4Work's partner on the 4Construction initiative and Build the Beat pre-apprenticeship program. Comparable as a sector-specific regional workforce intermediary, though narrower in industry focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PghWorkforce
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/3RiversWIB
• Facebookfacebook.com/Partner4WorkPgh
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/three-rivers-workforce-investment-board
• Instagraminstagram.com/partner4work

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board