labor lawAdivision of labor law center

Employers in California received a welcome boost when the US Department of Labor announced 3 worker training grants totaling almost $6 million.

 

The funds will be used to train workers in the healthcare and hospitality industries. The third grant will train technicians for movie and TV production.

 

East Los Angeles College received a grant of $1,777,710 to train workers for the healthcare industry. The school is located in Monterey Park, where the city motto is, “Pride in the past, Faith in the future.”

 

A grant of $2,142,263 goes to Del Norte County Workforce Center to train employees for the hospitality industry. The Crescent City agency serves a largely rural area in California’s far northwestern corner, near the Oregon border.

 

The final grant of $2 million is awarded to West Los Angeles College. The Culver City school will use the money to fund their programs in TV and movie production.

 

The three grants total $5,919,973.

 

Over 341 applications were filed in a competition announced in August, 2007. The awards were given to the top 69 competitors to help community colleges and training facilities provide assistance for workers seeking jobs in high-growth industries.

 

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

 

Community Based Job Training Grants focus on employers in need of skilled workers. The programs are built on the President’s High Growth Job Training Initiative, a model for demand-driven development of workers.

 

The Training Grants help meet this need by providing funds to community colleges in the areas where these industries need help. The funds go to purchase updated equipment for training, to hire qualified faculty and to establish on-the-job training experiences. The local industries collaborate with the colleges to develop training curricula to give new and existing workers the skills to meet the industry needs.

 

The grants provide training for new workers and for experienced workers as well. As a result existing employees can advance, thereby staying with the company longer, and new employees can find jobs with career advancement. The companies get skilled workers, and increase the retention of its workers.

 

To achieve this goal, the U. S. Department of Labor has formed strong relationships with business and industry. The Labor Department officials believe that these partnerships help boost local economies and ensure American’s competitive capability in the world market by helping Americans go to work.

 

For employers, adopting the Workforce Investment System into the Human Resources department can cut recruiting costs. Within the program are incentives for employers, too. Tax credits and government training assistance can assist these industries in updating the workplace for the 21st century.

 

Community colleges provide a local boost for training in areas where certain industries are seeking certain skill sets. The Community-Based Job Training Grants provide training for skilled workers to gain good jobs with career advancement. For example, several nuclear power plants in New Mexico need more skilled employees. A grant to train workers in the energy field could be awarded to a community college located near the plants.

 

The Community-Based Job Training Grants program was established in 2005, awarding 72 grants. In 2006, the second round of grants totaled 70. The purpose of these grants is to boost the community colleges’ role in marketing the full potential of the U. S. workforce.

 

Over the past few years, several factors have influenced the condition of the American workforce, including technology and innovation, aging of the workforce and globalization.

 

 

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