labor lawAdivision of labor law center

The U.S. Department of Labor recently awarded worker grants totaling $26.3 million to train workers in Alaska, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. The grants will benefit arctic construction workers in Alaska, provide distance-learning opportunities for a Native American community in Oklahoma, and job experience for youngsters in New Orleans.

Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao recently announced the award of $7.5 million to Alaska to train 2,250 workers for pipeline maintenance and construction. Alaska has a number of current and ongoing pipeline propjets that are in process.

“This $7.5 million grant will provide several thousand Alaskans with training to qualify for good jobs on natural gas and oil pipelines,” said Secretary Chao. “Workers will learn skills and gain job experience that can lead to rewarding careers in the high-growth energy sector.”

The grant will fund skill-based training that will be phased in over 5 years. Skilled construction workers will be involved in modernization of existing pipelines. Construction workers will be trained for a new natural gas pipeline to be constructed during the icy months of November through March, to minimize negative impact on the environment. These workers will earn certification in arctic weather construction techniques. In order to earn  the coveted certification, workers will participate in intensive, hands-on team training. Some of the classes will be offered by distance education, because of the unique geographical challenges of the Alaskan terrain. Workers will serve in apprenticeship programs and train as pipe welders, heavy equipment operators, surveyors and truck drivers.

“Seed money provided today will help Alaska use various partnerships to address a looming shortage of qualified pipeline workers,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco. “This grant will help provide a roadmap for attracting and training skilled workers as pipeline activity in Alaska ramps up over the next several years.”

A $3.8 million grant will go to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation in Oklahoma. The funds will be used for technology-driven regional training and also for regional economic development.

“This $3.8 million grant to the Muscogee Nation will allow geographically isolated students, workers and businesses to interact verbally and visually with teachers, employers and customers worldwide via real-time virtual connections to access educational and training opportunities to foster entrepreneurial success,” said Secretary Chao.

The Muscogee Nation of Oklahoma will collaborate with the Global Trade and Technology Corp., or GT2, a non-profit agency,  to improve education and career opportunities within its 11-county region. GT2 is providing the Muscogee Nation with its “e-Innovate” model, which combines worker training, economic development, and other high-technology capabilities for use by small- and mid-size businesses. The effort will utilize technology to allow geographically isolated students, workers and businesses to interact verbally and visually with teachers, employers and customers throughout the world via real-time connections.

“The programs and infrastructure funded through this grant will connect workers with educational and training opportunities that once were literally out of reach,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco. “Communications technology will link tribal businesses and workers to global markets and will help create new opportunities within and outside of the Muscogee Nation.”

The third grant of $15 million will benefit New Orleans youth through  temporary jobs and training opportunities. The grant is part of an ongoing effort at hurricane recovery in the troubled Mississippi Delta city and throughout Louisiana.

“This $15 million grant will help at risk young people in New Orleans with valuable skills training, educational opportunities and job experience while at the same time participate in the recovery of their communities from Hurricane Katrina,” said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.

The grant, is awarded to the Louisiana Department of Labor’s Office of Workforce Development, to provide about 1,200 temporary jobs to young people without previous job experience. Activities will offer youth the chance to receive occupational skills training, and the opportunity to earn a high school diploma and receive post-secondary education through area community colleges.

The project will be targeted at the following parishes within the Greater New Orleans area including the parishes of  Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John and St. Tammany.

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1. Posted by: New Job Center Opens in New Orleans - Labor Law Center Blog

   [...] A recent grant of $15 million will benefit New Orleans youth through temporary jobs and training opportunities. The grant is part of an ongoing effort at hurricane recovery in the troubled Mississippi Delta city and throughout Louisiana. [...]