LANCASTER - The uncertain econo my made John McGrann of Penn Stone cautious about adding workers, even during the busy construction season.

But offered the opportunity to hire employees at only $2 an hour, McGrann changed his mind.

"It seemed almost too good to be true," he said of a government wage-subsidy program that allowed him to hire two general laborers this summer he otherwise could not have afforded.

McGrann is one of many employers who have signed up for Pennsylvania's Way to Work program, which allows for-profit employers to pay $2 an hour for each new worker while the government pays the rest, up to $13 an hour. The program expires Sept. 30.

"It's an incredible deal," said Scott Sheely, director of Lancaster County Workforce Investment Board, who is overseeing the short-term $800,000 federal stimulus program here.

So far, more than 70 employers in Lancaster County have hired about 100 workers through the program.

Because funding remains available and lots of job seekers are ready to work, Sheely said he hopes other companies see the subsidy as an opportunity to hire.

He said the program offers employers a low-risk opportunity to test out a new hire before making the job permanent.

"We would like to fill in excess of 300 jobs," Sheely said. The emphasis is on jobs that continue after the subsidy ends.

All job seekers must first complete Pennsylvania CareerLink's work-readiness screening process before interviewing with participating employers.

To be eligible, employers may not furlough current workers, nor may they replace workers who were laid off within the past six months.

Novelty Manufacturing, a maker of flower boxes and garden accessories, is another company hiring through the Way to Work program. Novelty hired two office workers at the end of June.

"We had good growth this past year. There was too much work to do and not enough hours in the day," said Pam Bernard, the company's customer service representative. "We thought it was a perfect time to train some [new] people." Mina Omar, 18, a college student from Ephrata, was unsuccessfully seeking summer work through a staffing agency when Novelty hired her full time at $10 an hour.

"We're thrilled with the two [new workers] that we have," Bernard said. "They have exceeded our expectations."

Omar plans in the fall to return as a full-time student at Harrisburg Area Community College. Bernard said it has not been decided whether the other worker's job will be extended.

Penn Stone's decision to hire two workers was a godsend for Barry Gaffney, 45, whose five-year foundry job ended with the 2003 closing of Lancaster Malleable.

Gaffney said he has survived on temporary jobs, including three months of construction work at the Penn Square hotel and convention center. He also received unemployment compensation.

"I was on my last week [of unemployment]," Gaffney said, "so this came right on time."

Gaffney is working 40 hours a week and earning $10 an hour. He said he enjoys the outdoor work, which involves bagging stone and sand and stacking inventory.

The downside is knowing his job likely will end when the subsidy ends.

"I keep my head up and my chin high," said a hopeful Gaffney. "To have a [permanent] job here, I would love it."