KYW’s Steve Tawa reports that the subsidized employment program is funded by economic stimulus money from Washington.

The program only began this spring, and supporters say that without an extension it will never have the opportunity to reach its full potential.

(Pa. labor secretary Sandi Vito addresses rally at Progress Plaza in North Phila.)

Sandi Vito, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (on podium in photo), says 12,000 people across the Commonwealth — including 2,700 in Philadelphia — face layoffs when the program sunsets on September 30th.

Supporters of the program, including Vito, are pressing Congress to put up another $2 billion nationally to extend it another year:

“We have the ability (to do more), both in terms of employers who want to participate and participants who want to go back to work.”

The US House passed the extended funding, but several versions of the bill have failed in the Senate.

Kevina Thompson is waiting to find out whether the Fresh Grocer supermarket will retain her:

“If they lose funding, then the people they just hired will be let go.”

Fresh Grocer officials say they are trying to work the numbers to keep the workers, perhaps by cutting their hours.

(Photo by KYW’s Steve Tawa)