JPMorganChase Gifts $2 Million to Support Shipbuilding Training Through The Skills Initiative at the Navy Yard

On Wednesday, July 15^th, JPMorganChase announced a major $24 million investment to help strengthen shipbuilding in Philadelphia. The investment is aimed at supporting regional collaboration, small business suppliers, and support skills training, including a $2 million grant to help scale our workforce models that connect employers, technical training providers, and funding systems, with a focus on expanding non-degree pathways into higher-wage roles aligned with shipbuilding and advanced manufacturing.

The effort is expected to scale skills training for nearly 300 local individuals, helping more residents access quality jobs tied to the region’s growing maritime and industrial economy through The Skills Initiative at the Navy Yard’s ongoing partnership with Hanwah Philly Shipyard.

This new investment follows a $1.5 million investment JPMC 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. Applications for this opportunity are open through July 24^th, 2026. Find more information on how to apply here.

Since the launch of the first Skills Initiative at the Navy Yard 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. We’re also grateful to our partners from the City of Philadelphia, City College for Municipal Employment (CCME), Delaware County Community College, and PIDC.