December 29 – WILKES-BARRE – Secretary of Administration Neil Weaver announced this week that the Shapiro administration has entered into an agreement with InnovateUS – a leading provider of free training for public sector workers on the responsible use of generative artificial intelligence – to Train Commonwealth employees on artificial intelligence and responsible use.
The introduction of this training represents a commitment from Governor Josh Shapiro, who directed the Office of Administration to provide training to every employee and in-depth certification opportunities for those interested when he signed Executive Order 2023-19 along with national leaders in artificial intelligence at Carnegie Mellon University.
This training is another resource for Commonwealth employees, including employees involved in the Commonwealth’s generative AI pilot with OpenAI. Employees who participated in the first phase of the pilot reported an average time savings of 105 minutes on the last day they used generative AI.
“Generative AI is a powerful tool that can improve the productivity of our workforce and the services they provide to Pennsylvanians,” said Secretary Weaver. “This agreement gives us the opportunity to provide high-quality training at scale to equip employees with the relevant knowledge to use generative AI in their daily work.
“As generative AI systems become more prevalent and integrated into commonly used technology tools, these trainings will serve as a foundation for employees as the Commonwealth continues to provide resources to use this new technology responsibly.”
The InnovateUS training courses are specifically intended for employees in the public sector. The training deployed includes self-paced learning on topics such as responsible and efficient use of generative AI, writing prompts for AI tools, and mitigating generative AI risk.
The courses use practical examples and exercises to help employees understand where, when and how generative AI can be useful in their daily work or to tackle a specific challenge. The courses will be available to Commonwealth employees through the Office of Administration’s learning management system.
In addition to the training offered by InnovateUS, the Office of Administration has also updated annual security awareness and acceptable use training for all Commonwealth employees to include Generative AI, ensuring a basic level of AI literacy and understanding.
The state is opening a historically underserved business assistance program to support and empower small businesses
Lt. Governor Austin Davis and Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger announced this week that the Historically Disadvantaged Business Assistance Program is open and accepting funding applications from established nonprofits, economic development organizations, and educational institutions to support Business Assistance to create Service Centers throughout Pennsylvania to support and strengthen our small, diverse businesses.
Applications will be accepted until January 22, 2025.
Since day one, Governor Josh Shapiro and his administration have advocated opening new doors for minority-owned businesses across the Commonwealth.
“I advocated for this funding because when small businesses succeed, they create opportunities for Pennsylvanians across the Commonwealth,” said Governor Shapiro. “My administration and I are committed to breaking down the barriers that stand in the way of progress and helping historically underserved business owners and entrepreneurs build generational wealth. Pennsylvania is open for business and we are ensuring small, diverse businesses get the support they need to make their dreams come true and grow our economy.”
The Business Assistance Service Centers that will be created through the Historically Disadvantaged Business Assistance Program will provide technical assistance and business support services to increase access to capital, promote economic empowerment and increase the number of diverse small businesses.
“When we invest in minority communities and help historically underserved businesses in those neighborhoods, we don’t just support job creation – we build ladders of opportunity,” said Lt. Governor Austin Davis.
The Historically Disadvantaged Business Assistance Program will use a competitive application process to determine funding awards to at least one eligible organization in each region of the Commonwealth. Educational institutions, community-based nonprofits, and nonprofit economic development organizations with established experience and expertise in business and economic development are eligible for funding.
“The Shapiro-Davis Administration is committed to ensuring that every entrepreneur and small business in our Commonwealth has the same opportunity for success,” said Secretary Rick Siger.
Eligible organizations will be able to apply for additional Historically Disadvantaged Business Assistance Program funding in spring 2025 to establish local microgrant programs to further assist historically disadvantaged businesses with start-up and other costs, or to grow or expand their businesses .
PennDOT driver’s license, photo centers closed for New Year’s holiday
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced this week that all driver license and photo centers, including the full-service center in Harrisburg, will be closed Wednesday, January 1, 2025 in observance of the New Year’s holiday.
Customers can still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services, including all driver training forms, publications and manuals, online through PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website.
The online driver and vehicle services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and include driver’s license, photo ID and vehicle registration renewals; driver history services; address changes; restoration letters for driver’s license and vehicle registration; ability to pay reinstatement costs for driver’s license or car insurance; duplicate driver’s license and photo ID; REAL ID pre-verification; and scheduling of driving tests. There are no additional costs associated with using online services.
Ag Secretary Reminds Dog Owners to ‘Love Your Dog, License Your Dog’ — Before January Deadline
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding reminded dog owners in Pennsylvania to purchase a 2025 license from their county treasurer by January 1, 2025.
Not only are licenses a legal responsibility for owning a dog, they protect all dogs in Pennsylvania and are the best way to get your pet home quickly if it is lost.
In October 2023, Governor Josh Shapiro signed bipartisan, common-sense measures to modernize Pennsylvania’s dog law to make Pennsylvania a safer, healthier place for dogs in kennels and shelters, and to protect communities from stray and dangerous dogs.
“Pennsylvanians have made it clear that they expect dog owners, kennels, breeders and shelters to be held to high standards,” Redding said.
Dogs must be licensed at the time of adoption or purchase, or after three months if no transfer of ownership has occurred. The youngest age at which a dog can be purchased or adopted in Pennsylvania is eight weeks.
Dogs must be licensed before January 1, 2025. Licenses can be purchased through the Pennsylvania Treasurers.
An annual license costs $8.70. Lifetime licenses are available for $52.70 for dogs with permanent identification such as a microchip or tattoo. Seniors and people with disabilities may qualify for a discount on the cost of $6.70 for an annual license or $36.70 for a lifetime license.
The cost of a permit is much lower than the fine if you are caught without a permit. Owners who do not have a permit for their dog can face fines of up to $500 for each unlicensed dog.
Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.