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North Dakota Wins $1.8 Training Grant

May 1st, 2008 Posted by Amelia

A North Dakota community college beat out hundreds of competitors recently to win a highly coveted $1,758,224 worker training grant from the federal government.

The award goes to Turtle Mountain Community College, to train workers in the healthcare industry.

The Belcourt, ND school was awarded the grant in part because area employers had indicated that there was a shortage of well-qualified employees in the burgeoning industry.

Officials at the U. S. Department of Labor strongly believe these grants help boost local economies, and help the country’s ability to compete in the world marketplace by providing Americans with work. 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.

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. Plus, with the local colleges training these workers, the industry has a built-in method for screening and referral of skilled applicants. The employer reduces recruiting costs as a result, and increases the quality of its workforce.

These benefits allow the employer to bring the company into the 21st century, increase profits and become more competitive in the global market.

Working within the Initiative are the Community Based Job Training Grants. These grants focus on employers and provide funds to community college located near those employers in dire need of skilled workers. The funds are awarded to increase the community colleges’ capacity to train workers for these growing industries, both to fill the industry needs and to provide high-paying, career advancing jobs for America’s workers.

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.

According to the U. S. Department of Labor, 69 institutions in 38 states were awarded $125 million in grants.

These grants are available due to the President’s Community Based Job Training Grants Initiative, which awards money to community colleges and training facilities in areas where industries need skilled workers. The program was established in 2005 and awarded 72 grants. The second round of awards in 2006 gave out 70 grants.

Because of globalization, technology, innovation and an aging workforce, many industries are in dire need of skilled employees. Industries across the county, including advanced manufacturing and construction are seeking skilled employees. Regional industries, too, are in need of qualified workers.

The focus of the Community-Based Job Training Grants is to provide community colleges with programs to train people in areas where industries need workers with a particular set of skills. For example, a grant for training in the energy industry may be awarded to a community college in New Mexico near a cluster of nuclear power plants that require workers that are more skilled.

Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training, Brent R. Orrell said, “Preparing local residents for careers in growing hometown industries is critical to improving the quality of life of thousands of Americans. 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.”