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Kentucky $4.4 Million Training Grant

April 21st, 2008 Posted by Amelia

Three Kentucky employee training programs were recently awarded a total of almost $4.4 million by the U.S. Department of Labor.

A grant of $2,388,552 to train workers in advanced manufacturing was awarded to the Kentucky Community & Technical College in Hopkinsville.

Another advanced manufacturing grant for $1,996,442went to the Owensboro Community and Technical College.

The final Kentucky grant of $866,095 went to the Gateway Community and Technical College in Covington.

According to a recent announcement made by the U. S. Department of Labor, the President’s Community-Based Job Training Grants Initiative awarded $125 million to 69 community colleges across the United States.

The competition was announced in August of 2007, and received 341 applications. The funds go to training facilities and community colleges to aid workers in competing for high-growth industry jobs.

“Preparing local residents for careers in growing hometown industries is critical to improving the quality of life of thousands of Americans,” said acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Brent R. Orrell. “These programs will provide participants not only with the skills needed to gain employment, but the change to enter into careers that offer opportunities for advancement.”

The Community-Based Job Training Grants are aimed at areas where industries need skilled workers. The funds go to community colleges in these areas to help workers of all ages train for these skilled positions. Consider a cluster of nuclear plants in New Mexico. They need workers skilled in the energy field. A grant could be given to a local community college to train workers for those jobs.

“Community colleges are in a unique position to prepare local workers for careers in high-growth industries,” said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. “The $125 million awarded today will expand enrollment in education and training programs and provide more workers with the skills they need to succeed.”

Several factors have changed the workforce in the United States over the past few years. An aging workforce, globalization and technical innovations have put nationwide industries such as healthcare, energy and biotechnology in dire need of skilled employees.

Awarding these Community-Based Job Training Grants helps community colleges come to the forefront in training America’s workforce to its full potential. Initiated in 2005, 72 grants were awarded and 70 grants were awarded in the second round of awards in 2006.

The 69 grants awarded for 2008 provide assistance in 36 states.

A national model for the development of a demand-driven workforce, the President’s High Growth Job Training Initiative, implements programs through partnerships with business, industry and educators. Officials at the U. S. Department of Labor strongly believe these partnerships help boost local economies, and help the country’s ability to compete in the world marketplace by providing Americans with work.

Community colleges utilize the money to hire qualified faculty, set up training experiences like internships, and to upgrade equipment needed to aid in the training process. The colleges work closely with local industries to develop a training curriculum to meet that industry’s needs. The goal of the Grants is not only to provide skilled workers for these industries, but also to meet the needs of the employees with increased wages and increased options for advancement.

High growth is occurring and will occur in nearly 15 areas of the world market, including Advanced Manufacturing, Aerospace, Automotive, Biotechnology, Construction, Energy, Financial Services, Geospatial Technology, Health Care, Homeland Security, Hospitality, Information Technology, Retail and Transportation. New technology has brought new jobs and new industries to the market, all of which require workers with new skills.

Employers receive benefits from these programs beyond skilled workers. Companies that add the Workforce Investment System to their Human Resources department are eligible for incentives such as government training assistance and tax credits.