Governor Shapiro Invests Additional $500,000 in Philadelphia Youth Basketball | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA - Today, Governor Josh Shapiro visited the Alan Horwitz "Sixth Man" Center with Philadelphia Youth Basketball (PYB) President and CEO, Kenny Holdsmann, local leaders, and community members to announce PYB's plans to build The Generator of Career Development and Economic Opportunity. The Generator is a $50 million facility that will aim to help thousands of young adults build lasting careers in industries facing significant labor shortages throughout the region.

PYB received $1.5 million through the Commonwealth's Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP)- including $500,000 from the Shapiro Administration - to support the project and strengthen Pennsylvania's workforce development.

"I'm glad to be here to celebrate the next big step in Philadelphia Youth Basketball's future - The Generator - which will expand the life-changing work already happening here at the Sixth Man Center," said Governor Shapiro. "From the moment a student steps into the Sixth Man Center, they're met with a real community of support - learning about teamwork, perseverance, and how to pick yourself up after a loss - all while shooting hoops. Through the programs they've built both on and off the court, PYB is helping kids in Philly grow in every area of their lives, and my Administration is proud to support this next chapter and the opportunities The Generator will create for young people and families."

Today's announcement builds on previous Commonwealth support for PYB, which received $11.5 million in RACP grants to support its Sixth Man Center.

"It is simply too hard for young adults without a college degree and family connections with employers to find a pathway to economic independence and family sustaining income," said Kenny Holdsman, PYB Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer. "PYB and our partners are building a high-value solution and set of opportunities right here on our campus in the middle of North Philadelphia. We believe The Generator will be a game changer for young adults and our City."

PYB anticipates The Generator to open in early 2029 and serve as a centerpiece of the organization's campus in North Philadelphia, alongside the Sixth Man Center. The Generator will offer specialized training and instruction; a small business accelerator to support aspiring and existing entrepreneurs; clinical health and mental welfare resources for both participants and for the wider community; and a broad array of services including career coaching and job placement, resource navigation, drivers' education, healthy meals, financial literacy education, and more.

"The Generator represents the continued evolution and deepening of PYB's mission and the fulfillment of our Kinder-to-Career promise to youth and young adults," said Ameen Akbar, PYB Chief Mission Officer. "It ensures that the next generation has access to the tangible relationships, skills, experiences, and opportunities that can lead to meaningful careers and greater economic mobility."

Since its founding, PYB has leveraged basketball to provide a safe, nurturing environment for young people to build the skillsets and mindsets they need to succeed on the court and in their education, careers, and lives. The organization serves over 1,600 young people each year, has partnerships throughout Philadelphia, and is supported by more than 350 volunteers and staff.

"This is an investment and a message about how we do things," said Senator Vincent Hughes, PA's 7th Senate District. "We do this not only for ourselves, but so that others can see how it's done, then replicate it and give back to their own community, because we know how great these young people will be. We got this done and I'm glad to have been a part of the team that brought it all the way home."

The Shapiro Administration has also provided a total of $2.29 million in Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) grants to allow PYB to continue providing safe, structured after-school and evening programming for local teens, expand programming in the Sixth Man Center, and support staff salaries.

The Shapiro Administration is Strengthening Pennsylvania's Workforce

Governor Shapiro has made workforce development a cornerstone of his Administration, ensuring Pennsylvanians of all ages have the tools to succeed. Under his leadership, there have been 278 new apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs registered, and more than 30,000 apprentices and pre-apprentices have enrolled in registered programs.

The 2026-27 budget reinforces that commitment by securing:

• $70 million increase to a total of $193 million in funding for vo-tech, CTE, and apprenticeships - a 60 percent increase since taking office.

• $5 million increase for the Child Care Staff Retention and Recruitment Program Governor Shapiro created last year, for a total of $30 million in funding, providing at least $540 per employee annually to licensed Child Care Works providers - an increase on last year's initial estimate by about $100 per employee.

• $3.75 million increase for Pre-K Counts rates to help providers raise wages and stabilize the early educator workforce.

• $10 million increase for the Student Teacher Stipend Program, bringing total support to $40 million annually. Administered through PHEAA, these stipends allow aspiring teachers to earn income while completing their full-time classroom training.

• $3 million investment to create an optometrist training program.

• $2.5 million investment in the Nurse Shortage Assistance Program to strengthen Pennsylvania's health care workforce by providing tuition assistance to young nurses and setting them up with a hospital placement.

Through support for projects like The Generator, the Shapiro Administration is building on three years of progress to expand opportunities so that every Pennsylvanian has the freedom to chart their own course.

Read more about the 2026-27 budget, view the Governor's remarks as prepared here, or watch the Governor's delivered remarks here