Labor Law Center Blog » Blog Archive » Alaska Wins $2 Million Grant

Alaska Wins $2 Million Grant

November 1st, 2007 Posted by Amelia

The Alaska Vocational Technical Center has been awarded a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration, to design and construct the AVTEC Maritime Safety Training Facility.

This new facility will be part of the Alaska Maritime Training Center. AVTEC’s Alaska Maritime Training Center currently provides courses in various aspects of

vessel operations and safety for all types of ships that lead to U.S. Coast Guard-approved certifications, training and licenses. This expansion will provide for a new maritime safety campus on seven acres leased from the City of Seward on Resurrection Bay.

The new campus will provide comprehensive facilities located together and adjacent to a city-owned harbor and dock. The campus will include a ship fire training simulator, classroom facilities, a safety training lab, lifeboat and lifeboat launching equipment.

Fishery is one of Alaska’s most important industries. The Maritime Center was formed to train Alaskans in the maritime profession and provide the transportation industry with a highly skilled workforce trained in the unique Alaskan environment.

“We’re excited about the new training opportunities that the 4,800-square foot AVTEC Maritime Safety Training Facility will open up for all Alaskans,” said Labor Commissioner Click Bishop.

AVTEC Director Fred Esposito said AVTEC’s maritime program has been successful in training Alaskans for Alaska jobs. “We’re turning out success stories – graduates prepared for rewarding, well-paying careers

aboard the big tankers, fish processors and Alaska Marine Highway System vessels,” Esposito said.

This is just the latest in a series of grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor. Many grants are to promote training of the American workforce in industries that have been identified as having growing needs for workers, including biotech, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, construction and industry. A recent New York grant to train healthcare workers is just one example.

Other grants are designed to offer more job-seeking resources for the laid off workers. Communities should start applying for grants as soon after the layoff occurs as possible to guarantee that the funds arrive in time.

For example, the DOL awarded a grant of more than $1.2 million this year to help almost 250 workers in the corporate offices of Brooks Eckerd in Warwick, Rhode Island. The employees were laid off when the company was acquired by Rite Aid.

Micron Technology of Boise, Idaho, laid off 400 of its workers, who were assisted by a grant of more than $2 million.. Of the total amount, $847,538 came into the community via an immediate release.

Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao said the grant money will help the displaced workers through career counseling, training in new skills, and other services. The aid should help them “find and succeed in new jobs,” she said.

Workers in Massachusetts and Missouri were recipients. Two grants totaling more than $1.94 million offer job-seeking services for workers who have lose their jobs specifically because of plant closings. The employees involved also qualify for more aid through the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, or TAA.

In Missouri, workers were displaced when the O’Sullivan Industries plant in Lamar closed. A grant of nearly $1.1 million was released. Another grant worth $250,000 went to a program in SI WORKS. The program is charged with the responsibility of improving opportunities for workers, and to foster economic development, in 20 counties in southern Illinois.

Temporary jobs and benefits went in September to workers in Minnesota who lived in regions of the state hit by flash flooding thanks to a $3 million grant.

Besides a National Emergency Grant NEG), other grants available include the Trade-WIA Enrollment grant, the Regional Innovation grant, and the Trade-health Coverage Infrastructure grant.